India is set to face Timor Leste in a crucial match of the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, with the Blue Tigresses aiming to maintain their winning momentum. The match is scheduled for Sunday, June 29th, at the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium in Thailand.
India began their qualifying campaign with a resounding 13-0 victory over Mongolia. This win, which is India's biggest ever in the AFC Women's Asian Cup (final round and qualifiers), showcased the team's attacking prowess, with Pyari Xaxa scoring five goals. Soumya Guguloth and Priyadharshini Selladurai each contributed two goals, while Sangita Basfore, Rimpa Haldar, Malavika, and Grace Dangmei added one goal apiece.
Despite the impressive scoreline against Mongolia, India's coach, Crispin Chettri, anticipates a more challenging encounter against Timor Leste. Chettri, who previously led Odisha FC to domestic success, believes that Timor Leste is a better-organized team defensively and prefers counter-attacks. He noted that Timor Leste has pace in their team and doesn't mind keeping the ball, making them a potentially tricky opponent.
Timor Leste, ranked 158th in the world, secured a 0-0 draw against Iraq in their opening match, demonstrating their resilience. This was their first-ever point in an AFC competition. Coached by Emral bin Bustamam, Timor Leste has been actively participating in international football, including finishing fourth in the 2024 AFF Women's Cup. They have also competed in four editions of the ASEAN Women's Championship, with their only official victory being a 2-1 win over Singapore in 2019.
India, currently ranked 70th in the FIFA rankings, has never faced Timor Leste before. The Blue Tigresses are aiming to qualify for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026, which will be held in Australia from March 1 to 26. The top six teams at the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 will also qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup Brazil 2027.
The AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers feature 34 teams divided into eight groups. The winner of each group will qualify for the final tournament. India is in Group B alongside Mongolia, Timor Leste, Iraq, and Thailand, who are hosting the group matches.
India's schedule for the remaining matches in Group B is as follows:
With a young squad averaging 23.6 years, India is aiming to make a statement in the qualifiers. The team's biggest test is expected to be against Thailand, ranked 46th, in their final group match. Only the group winner will qualify for the final tournament in Australia.
The Indian team had a forgettable experience in the last edition of the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 2022, where they had to withdraw due to a COVID-19 outbreak. The Blue Tigresses last qualified for the continental event in 2003. India has qualified for the AFC Women's Asian Cup eight times, including the 2022 edition as hosts.
