Fresh off a commanding 13-0 win against Mongolia, the Indian women’s football team, known as the Blue Tigresses, return to action today in their second match of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers against Timor-Leste.
The fixture kicks off at 2:30 PM IST (4 PM local time) at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai and will be streamed live on the Changsuek YouTube channel.
While India is the higher-ranked side (70th in FIFA rankings) and riding high on confidence, head coach Crispin Chettri is warning against complacency. Despite Timor-Leste sitting at 158th in the FIFA rankings, Chettri believes they could present a more organized and tactically challenging opponent than Mongolia.
Group B: A Competitive Cluster
The five-team Group B is tightly poised after the first two matchdays. Iraq currently lead the table with four points from two matches (a 5-2 win over Mongolia and a 0-0 draw with Timor-Leste), while India and Thailand both have three points with a game in hand.
Timor-Leste sits fourth with one point after a hard-earned draw against Iraq and a 0-4 defeat to Thailand, while Mongolia is yet to open their account after two heavy losses.
Here’s how Group B looks after Matchday 2:
- 🇮🇶 Iraq – 4 pts (2 matches)
- 🇮🇳 India – 3 pts (1 match)
- 🇹🇭 Thailand – 3 pts (1 match)
- 🇹🇱 Timor-Leste – 1 pt (2 matches)
- 🇲🇳 Mongolia – 0 pts (2 matches)
A New Opponent, A New Test
India has never played against Timor-Leste in women’s football before, which adds an element of unpredictability to the match. However, Chettri and his coaching staff were in attendance during Timor-Leste’s previous outing against Thailand, and they were quick to note the side’s defensive structure and counter-attacking intent.
Timor-Leste may be relatively new on the AFC stage, but they’ve been building experience in the ASEAN region. Under Indonesian head coach Emral bin Bustamam, the team has improved steadily. Their fourth-place finish in the 2024 AFF Women’s Cup included draws against Laos and Singapore. Their 0-0 draw with Iraq was their first-ever point in an AFC competition, showing a team growing in belief.
Notably, Timor-Leste’s only official international win came in the 2019 ASEAN Women’s Championship a 2-1 victory over Singapore.
India’s Preparation: Rested, Recharged, Ready
Since their opening day rout of Mongolia, the Blue Tigresses have had five days to rest, recover, and recalibrate for what promises to be a more structured opponent in Timor-Leste. The Indian squad had two training sessions each on Tuesday and Thursday, followed by focused sessions on Friday and Saturday, balancing workload and tactical planning.
“We used this break wisely,” said Chettri. “In a tournament where you have to play four matches in about ten days, rest and recovery are key. We had time to work on things that didn’t go perfectly in the first match and prepare specifically for upcoming opponents.”
Interestingly, the coach also gave the team a complete day off on Wednesday, emphasising the mental side of recovery. “Getting out of the football zone for a bit is just as important as training. It clears the mind, refreshes the body, and helps players refocus.”
What to Expect from India
India will enter this match as favourites and will look to replicate their dominance from the opening fixture. However, the coaching staff has stressed the importance of adapting to a tighter defensive setup. Against Mongolia, the Indian forwards had acres of space and exploited it brilliantly. Against Timor-Leste, the challenge will be breaking down compact defensive lines and avoiding getting caught on the counter.
The likes of Manisha Kalyan, Grace Dangmei, and Anju Tamang will be key in India’s attacking build-up, while Indumathi Kathiresan’s leadership in midfield will be crucial in dictating tempo. In defence, the centre-back pairing will need to stay alert to Timor-Leste’s pace on the break.
India may also rotate their squad slightly to manage fitness across the three matches in a week, with tougher tests against Thailand and Iraq looming.
High Stakes and High Hopes
With only the group winner guaranteed a spot in the final tournament, every match matters. India will be looking not just to win but to enhance their goal difference, which could prove decisive in what is shaping up to be a close group.
Thailand’s 4-0 win over Timor-Leste has already set a benchmark, and India will aim to better or match that performance to stay on course.
Eyes on the Prize
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup is not just a continental title. It is also a pathway to the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Olympic Games. India has a golden opportunity to raise its profile and momentum through this qualifying cycle. The recent improvements in infrastructure, exposure trips, and grassroots development have all started to yield results and the Blue Tigresses are now being seen as a serious unit in Asian women’s football.
As the Blue Tigresses take the field today against Timor-Leste, they do so not just as favourites, but as flagbearers of a growing football movement in India. This is more than a qualifier it’s a moment to inspire, to dominate, and to dream.
Kick-off is at 2:30 PM IST. Tune in live on the Changsuek YouTube channel and support India’s journey to the Asian stage.
Prediction: India 4-0 Timor-Leste, But as Coach Chettri warns, “No opponent should be taken lightly. Respect them, but believe in ourselves.”
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