Blue Tigresses Begin SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 Campaign Against Maldives in Goa
The Indian women’s football team will begin its SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 campaign on Monday with a clash against Maldives at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, as the Blue Tigresses look to reclaim the regional crown they last won in 2019.
The Group B encounter, scheduled for 7:30 PM IST, marks a historic occasion for Indian women’s football as it will be the first time the national women’s team plays an international match in Goa. Entry for fans has been kept free, while the match will be streamed live on FanCode. Ranked 69th in the latest FIFA rankings, India head into the tournament as the highest-ranked side among all participating nations and clear favourites against Maldives, who are currently ranked 167th in the world.
History too heavily favours the hosts.
India have dominated the rivalry against Maldives over the years, winning seven of their eight meetings while drawing the other match. The Blue Tigresses have scored a staggering 68 goals in those encounters and conceded only once. Yet despite the statistical advantage, head coach Crispin Chettri has made it clear that India cannot afford complacency in a tournament that has become increasingly competitive in recent years.
Speaking during the pre-tournament press conference, Chettri acknowledged the growing standards within South Asian women’s football and stressed the importance of building towards bigger continental ambitions.
“SAFF Championship is getting competitive day by day. Being hosts of the tournament, fans will certainly expect a bit from us. We are a mixed bag with experienced as well as young players,” said Chettri. “The overall target is to qualify for the next Asian Cup so the preparations start from now,” he added.
India enter the tournament after a mixed outing at the FIFA Series 2026 in Kenya, where they finished third. While the performances showed glimpses of progress, the SAFF Championship now presents an opportunity for the team to re-establish regional dominance.
The squad combines experienced internationals with emerging young talents, creating an interesting balance across the pitch. Defensively, much attention will be on youngsters Astam Oraon and Nirmala Devi Phanjoubam. Nirmala especially comes into the tournament with growing recognition after being named the Best Defender in the recently concluded Indian Women’s League (IWL) season.
Their composure at the back could prove crucial as India attempt to maintain defensive solidity throughout the tournament. In midfield, Aveka Singh and Sangita Basfore are expected to shoulder major responsibilities. Aveka recently scored her maiden international goal and has emerged as one of the promising midfielders in the setup, while Sangita brings valuable experience and control in possession.
The attacking unit remains one of India’s biggest strengths. Grace Dangmei, Pyari Xaxa and Soumya Guguloth provide pace, creativity and finishing ability in the final third. Grace, one of India’s most experienced attackers, believes the team has learned important lessons from recent international exposure.
“It was a learning experience for us in Australia. We understood where we need to improve and hopefully we can implement those learnings in this tournament. We will try to go all the way,” Grace said.
One major absentee for India at the start of the tournament, however, will be star forward Manisha Kalyan.
The winger, who currently plays club football in Peru, is yet to join the squad as the FIFA international window officially begins only on June 1. Her absence means India will initially rely more heavily on the existing attacking group for goals and creativity.
For Maldives, the challenge is enormous but not impossible. Head coach Mohamed Sobah acknowledged India’s superiority but indicated his side would attempt to disrupt the hosts tactically rather than engage them openly.
“We have huge respect for India. We know that they are going to press. So we will try to play smartly and try to break their attack,” Sobah said.
The structure of the tournament ensures there is little room for early mistakes. India, Maldives and Bangladesh form Group B, while Group A consists of Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals scheduled for June 3, with the final set to take place on June 6.
Bangladesh are expected to provide India’s toughest challenge in the group stages, meaning a strong start against Maldives could be extremely important in terms of momentum and goal difference. Beyond results, the tournament also represents another important step in the growth of Indian women’s football.
The Indian Women’s League has improved significantly in recent years, providing players with more competitive matches and better professional environments. Several young players entering the SAFF Championship squad have directly benefited from that exposure. Hosting the tournament in Goa also gives Indian football an opportunity to further connect with fans and strengthen support for the women’s game domestically.
For the Blue Tigresses, though, the objective remains clear reclaim the SAFF title and build confidence ahead of future continental challenges. On paper, India enter the tournament as favourites. But as Crispin Chettri pointed out, South Asian women’s football is evolving rapidly, and every match now demands intensity, discipline and focus.
The journey begins on Monday night in Margao.
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