The Indian senior women’s football team has announced its 26-member squad for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026, with preparations now entering the final phase ahead of a crucial continental campaign that also doubles up as a qualification pathway for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027.
Placed in Group C, India will open their campaign against Vietnam on March 4 at the Perth Rectangular Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 16:30 IST. They will then face Japan on March 7 at the same venue before concluding their group stage fixtures against Chinese Taipei on March 10 at the Western Sydney Stadium, where the match will begin at 14:30 IST.
The tournament carries significant stakes beyond continental supremacy. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed sides, will advance to the quarter-finals. From there, the four quarter-final winners will secure direct qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027. The losing quarter-finalists will enter a play-off round for the remaining two direct qualification spots allocated to Asia. Teams that fall short in these play-offs will still have another opportunity to qualify via the intercontinental Play-off Tournament.
India head into the tournament following a four-week preparatory camp in Türkiye, after which the Blue Tigresses arrived in Perth on February 11 to acclimatise to local conditions and fine-tune their tactical setup ahead of the group stage.
Among the 26 players selected in the squad, eight were part of India’s previous Asian Cup campaign in 2022, which was hosted on home soil. Sweety Devi Ngangbam, Shilky Devi Hemam, Sanju Yadav, Anju Tamang, Pyari Xaxa, Grace Dangmei, Manisha Kalyan and Sowmiya Narayanasamy were all members of that squad. However, India’s campaign in that edition was cut short after just one match due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the team, making the upcoming tournament an opportunity for redemption on the continental stage.
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The current squad also reflects a transition phase within the national setup, featuring six potential debutants who are yet to earn a senior international cap. Defenders Sarita Yumnam and Sushmita Lepcha, midfielders Jasoda Munda, Sanfida Nongrum and Aveka Singh, along with forward Kaviya Pakkirisamy, have all been included in the travelling contingent. Their selection underlines the team management’s intent to blend experience with emerging talent as India look to build a sustainable core for the future.
Grace Dangmei remains the most experienced player in the squad and is also India’s leading goal-scorer among the selected players, having netted 23 goals in 91 international appearances. Meanwhile, Anju Tamang, born in 1995, is the seniormost member of the squad at 30 years of age. Shilky Devi Hemam, who was also the youngest player in the 2022 Asian Cup squad, retains that distinction in the current lineup at just 20 years old.
Domestic club representation within the squad is dominated by East Bengal FC, who have eight players selected for the tournament. Sethu FC follow with six representatives, while Sribhumi FC have four players included in the national squad. Notably, Aveka Singh and Manisha Kalyan are the only two players currently plying their trade overseas. Singh represents Danish club Næstved HG, while Kalyan features for Peruvian side Alianza Lima, adding valuable international club experience to the team.
The goalkeeping responsibilities will be shared between Panthoi Chanu Elangbam, Shreya Hooda and Sowmiya Narayanasamy. In defence, the squad includes Astam Oraon, Juli Kishan, Martina Thokchom, Nirmala Devi Phanjoubam, Sanju Yadav, Sarita Yumnam, Shilky Devi Hemam, Sushmita Lepcha and Sweety Devi Ngangbam.
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The midfield unit comprises Anju Tamang, Aveka Singh, Babina Devi Lisham, Jasoda Munda, Sanfida Nongrum and Sangita Basfore, while the attacking line-up features Grace Dangmei, Kaviya Pakkirisamy, Lynda Kom Serto, Malavika P, Manisha Kalyan, Pyari Xaxa, Rimpa Haldar and Soumya Guguloth.
The team will be led by head coach Amelia Valverde, supported by assistant coaches Crispin Chettri and Priya PV. Goalkeeping coaches Eli Ávila and Mario Aguiar, along with strength and conditioning coach José Sánchez, form part of the backroom staff overseeing India’s preparations for the tournament.
With World Cup qualification at stake and a mix of experienced campaigners and uncapped talent in the ranks, India will be aiming to make a strong impression in Australia and secure a historic berth at the global showpiece in 2027.
