India’s journey to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 begins today in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Four matches stand between the team and a place in next year’s finals, which will be hosted across Perth, Sydney and the Gold Coast.
The qualifiers, running from 23 June to 19 July, bring together 34 national sides from across Asia, each fighting for one of eight remaining tournament slots. India, ranked 70th in the world and 13th in the Asian Football Confederation, finds itself in Group B alongside Thailand, Iraq, Timor-Leste and Mongolia.
Only the team that tops the group will qualify. And with Thailand hosting the group fixtures and being the highest-ranked team in Group B, the competition will be tight.
India’s first match is against Mongolia today at 7:00 pm AEST. All group matches will be held at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai. They will face Timor-Leste next on Sunday, followed by Iraq on 2 July, and close with Thailand on 5 July.
This is familiar territory for India’s women, who have played in nine Asian Cups. But recent years have been rocky. A COVID outbreak forced them to withdraw from their home tournament in 2022. That shadow still lingers. Since then, fans have been waiting to see how the team would regroup.
The squad has gradually rebuilt. A mix of experienced players and young prospects are making the trip to Thailand. However, the group is not without challenges. Thailand, who play host, will enjoy home support and have traditionally been a strong force in women’s football across Southeast Asia. Mongolia and Timor-Leste are less experienced sides, but cannot be taken lightly—particularly in the unpredictable early rounds of tournament football.
The structure of the qualifiers is clear-cut. Eight groups have been drawn, with winners advancing to join Australia (as hosts), China, Japan and Korea Republic, who have already secured their places. Matches are being played across eight different countries, showcasing the regional spread of women’s football across Asia.
Here’s the full match schedule for India (all times AEST):
- India vs Mongolia – Monday 23 June, 7:00 pm
- India vs Timor-Leste – Sunday 29 June, 7:00 pm
- India vs Iraq – Wednesday 2 July, 7:00 pm
- India vs Thailand – Saturday 5 July, 10:30 pm
All games will be played at the same venue, giving teams a consistent setting but also reducing travel fatigue. That could work in India’s favour, as they look to build rhythm with every match.
The broader tournament will be staged next March (1–21 March 2026), and Australia’s cities are already gearing up. With the Matildas having captured national attention during the FIFA Women’s World Cup, there’s strong anticipation for this tournament. Ticket registrations are now open via the official website.
Meanwhile, for India, the next two weeks will be decisive. The competition may be tough, but the path is simple: win the group and the dream lives on. Anything less, and they miss out.
More tournament information is available at the-afc.com, including group tables, fixtures, and team updates.
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