Grouped with Japan, Vietnam and Chinese Taipei, India face a tough task at the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia. (Image: AIFF Media) NEW DELHI: In 2022, India was selected to host the AFC Women’s Asian Cup for the first time since 1980. The euphoria of playing in front of home fans was overshadowed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several teams have returned positive tests, but none more than India with 12 affected players. As a result, India were unable to name a 13-man squad for their opening match and they were forced to withdraw from the tournament.It seemed like it would be a damper for months and years to come. Purposeful players fell into oblivion. The ranking plummeted from 55th in the world to 70th in June last year.
Why Ahmedabad is probably the sports capital of India? | Bombay Sports Stock Exchange
And then came the onslaught. 13-0 against Mongolia. 4-0 against East Timor. 5-0 against Iraq. This was followed by a hard-fought 2-1 win against last year’s quarter-finalists Thailand. Four matches played and four wins helped India reach Group B of the qualifiers and qualify for the finals for the first time in two decades on merit.Now an even tougher test begins in Australia with the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup between March 1 and 21. India find themselves in a daunting group that includes two-time champions Japan, Vietnam and three-time winners Chinese Taipei.This effort is heralded by Costa Rican Amelia Valverde, who was appointed as India’s coach in January. She joins the existing coaching staff of Crispin Chettri, Priya PV and Mario Aguia.“We are facing three strong opponents with a lot of experience. Japan were world champions; Vietnam played the last World Cup and Chinese Taipei came very close to qualifying. We understand the level and these matches will be very close. Our aim is to compete in all three games, step by step. The first match will be very important. She has earned the right to be here and now we have to compete,” she told TimesofIndia.com.
File photo of Indian women’s football team coach Amelia Valverde. (AIFF)
The 39-year-old Valverde’s biography makes for good reading. After starting as a coach in 2011, she became Costa Rica’s manager for eight years (2015 to 2023), leading them to two FIFA Women’s World Cups. During her time at CF Monterrey, she was named the 2016 CONCACAF Coach of the Year by the Mexican Football Federation and then the Mexican Balón de Oro for the best coach in Liga MX Femenil.Her record against Asian teams also inspires confidence. As a coach, she faced four Asian teams – Japan, South Korea, China and the Philippines – relegated only to 2011 World Cup winners Japan.Now part of the Indian women’s football team, she has overseen a training camp in Turkey and a flurry of friendly matches. There were wins against FC Schlieren, Hertha BSC Frauen, Zvezda, FK Csíkszereda Miercurea Ciuc and Perth RedStar, as well as a draw with Spartak Moscow.Ahead of the Women’s Asia Cup, captain Sweety Devi’s squad is in Australia from February 11 to acclimatise to the conditions. Even before the first ball was kicked, hearts were ablaze in the camp. Anju Tamang has been withdrawn due to injury and striker Karishma Shirvoikar comes in as a replacement. And then there is the expected chaos that comes with Indian football.
Sangita Basfore is a vital cog in India’s midfield. (AIFF)
However, Valverde is focused firmly on the task at hand. An admirer of Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Emmy Hayes and Pia Sundhage, she thinks there is no need to tinker with the system at this stage.“We respected the structure and the system that the team already had because they did a very good job before qualifying. Our goal was to strengthen what was already working well,” she said of the season so far. “The team has to adapt to the demands of international football and what we believe is required. But we also have to adapt to the qualities of the players. This team is brave, fast in attack and strong in defence, so we have tried to strengthen those strengths,” she continued.For a long time, for better or for worse, the Indian men’s football team has grabbed the limelight while the women have flown under the radar despite achieving better results. Controversy and attention has been spread across the men’s national team and leagues as the women receive a step-motherly approach from all parties involved. Unfortunately, this is not limited to India, Valverde admits.
India have been based in Perth for the past three weeks as part of their preparations for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. (AIFF)
“This is not happening only in India. It is happening in many countries. Maybe USA is the only exception. The only way to change it is to show it on the field. The players have already shown something important by qualifying for this Asia Cup after more than 20 years (since 2003). They have knocked on the door and shown that they can compete,” the Indian coach said.“Improving the visibility, sustainability of the league, infrastructure and support is a shared responsibility of the federation, the country, the media, everyone,” she added as a guide for the way forward.With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers for the Asia Cup, Indian women have a chance to flip the script and become the flag bearers of Indian national football. Maybe then at least the interested parties will notice.QUICK GUIDE TO AFC WOMEN’S ASIAN CUPGroups and formatGroup A: Australia, South Korea, Iran and the Philippines.Group B: North Korea, China, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan.Group C: India, Japan, Vietnam and Chinese Taipei.The top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed teams qualify for the quarterfinals.India’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup MatchesMarch 4: India vs Vietnam in Perth at 16:30 IST.March 7: India Vs. Japan at Perth at 16:30 IST.March 10: India Vs. Chinese Taipei at Sydney at 14:30 IST.Live on FanCode.Indian SectionGoalkeepers: Panthoi Chanu Elangbam, Shreya Hooda, Sowmiya Narayanasamy.Defenders: Astam Oraon, Juli Kishan, Martina Thokchom, Nirmala Devi Phanjoubam, Sanju Yadav, Sarita Yumnam, Shilky Devi Hemam, Sushmita Lepcha, Sweety Devi Ngangbam.Midfielders: Aveka Singh, Babina Devi Lisham, Jasoda Munda, Sanfida Nongrum, Sangita Basfore.Forwards: Grace Dangmei, Kaviya Pakkirisamy, Lynda Kom Serto, Malavika Prasad, Manisha Kalyan, Pyari Xaxa, Rimpa Haldar, Soumya Guguloth, Karishma Shirvoikar.
