The Indian senior women’s national football team have concluded an intensive overseas training camp in Türkiye and departed for Perth, Australia, as they enter the decisive phase of preparations for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.
The upcoming continental showpiece, to be held from March 1 to March 21, 2026, in Australia, represents far more than just another tournament for the Blue Tigresses. It marks a crucial opportunity for India to re-establish themselves among Asia’s elite and compete for a potential pathway to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
A Structured Build-Up After Historic Qualification
India secured qualification for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup on merit for the first time in over two decades, topping Group B of the qualifiers in Thailand in July 2025. That campaign was defined by authority and intent dominant wins over Mongolia (13–0), Timor-Leste (4–0), and Iraq (5–0), followed by a decisive 2–1 victory over hosts Thailand.
That triumph was symbolic. It signaled the end of a prolonged rebuilding phase and the beginning of a new competitive cycle. The withdrawal from the 2022 edition due to a COVID outbreak had left unfinished business. The 2026 campaign now offers a clean slate.
To bridge the competitive gap between South Asian dominance and continental competitiveness, the All India Football Federation adopted a more structured preparation strategy. The Türkiye camp, held between mid-January and early February 2026, was central to that plan.
European Exposure in Türkiye
The Antalya training block provided the Blue Tigresses with high-level competitive exposure against European club sides. The results reflected a team evolving tactically and physically.
India began with a 0–2 defeat to Ukrainian champions FC Metalist 1925, a match that tested defensive discipline and resilience. But the team responded strongly in subsequent fixtures:
- A 2–1 victory over Swiss side FC Schlieren.
- A goalless draw against Russian heavyweights WFC Spartak Moscow.
- A disciplined 1–0 win over Hertha BSC Frauen of Germany.
- A confident 2–0 victory against Zvezda-2005 Perm.
- A narrow 0–1 defeat to Romanian club FK Csíkszereda.
Across six matches, India registered three wins, one draw, and two losses an encouraging return against structured European opposition.
Beyond the scorelines, the camp was about tactical consolidation. Under newly appointed head coach Amelia Valverde who previously led Costa Rica to two FIFA Women’s World Cups the emphasis has shifted toward compact defensive blocks, structured pressing triggers, improved ball retention in transition & enhanced physical conditioning
Valverde’s integration of a specialized technical staff, including strength and conditioning and goalkeeping expertise, reflects a clear move toward professionalized preparation.
A Young Core with Continental Ambition
India travel to Australia with a 26-member squad that blends youth with experience. The average age of the squad hovers around 23–24 years a reflection of long-term planning. At the back, the experience of Ashalata Devi and Sweety Devi provides stability. Captain and goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu has been a calming presence throughout the European tour. In midfield, Sangita Basfore the hero of the Thailand qualifier with her brace against the hosts remains pivotal to India’s tempo control.
Up front, Manisha Kalyan, Grace Dangmei, Anju Tamang, and Pyari Xaxa form an attacking group capable of pace, directness, and intelligent movement inside the box.
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The squad’s departure to Perth signals the final acclimatization phase. Australia’s climate, travel distances, and stadium environments demand early adaptation something the management has factored in with a nearly three-week lead time before India’s opening group-stage fixture.
The Challenge Ahead: Group C
India have been drawn into Group C alongside Japan, Vietnam, and Chinese Taipei arguably one of the most technically demanding groups in the tournament.
- Japan, ranked inside the global top 10, remain Asia’s benchmark.
- Vietnam are recent World Cup participants.
- Chinese Taipei have consistently hovered within Asia’s upper middle tier.
India, currently ranked 67th globally, enter as underdogs.
Their group-stage fixtures are scheduled as follows:
- March 4: India vs Vietnam (Perth)
- March 7: India vs Japan (Perth)
- March 10: India vs Chinese Taipei (Sydney)
The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed sides, advance to the quarter-finals. Importantly, the top six finishers overall will secure direct qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
This transforms every match into a potential gateway.
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For the Blue Tigresses, Australia 2026 is about identity as much as outcome.
The team’s trajectory from early Asian dominance in the 1980s, to regional supremacy in SAFF competitions, to a structured continental re-entry reflects a program maturing institutionally. The Türkiye camp was not merely about friendlies; it was about exposure to pace, physicality, and decision-making speed at higher levels. The Perth phase will now focus on match sharpness, set-piece rehearsal, and psychological readiness.
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup is no longer just participation. It is progression.
As the Indian women’s team lands in Perth, they carry both ambition and responsibility ambition to compete, and responsibility to represent a rapidly growing ecosystem of women’s football in the country. Australia will test them. But this time, India arrive prepared, structured, and ready to measure themselves against the continent’s best.
