The Indian women's football team delivered a dominant performance, thrashing Iraq 5-0 in their AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers match on Wednesday. With this victory, India has taken a significant step towards qualifying for the prestigious continental tournament.

The match, held at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai, Thailand, saw India maintain their perfect record in the qualifiers. From the kickoff, the Blue Tigresses displayed superior skill and determination, leaving Iraq struggling to keep pace. India's cohesive teamwork and strategic play were evident as they dominated possession and created numerous scoring opportunities.

Sangita Basfore opened the scoring for India in the 14th minute, converting from close range. Manisha Kalyan doubled the lead just before halftime, further solidifying India's advantage. After the break, Karthika Angamuthu added a third goal in the 47th minute, extending India's lead. Nirmala Devi scored the fourth goal in the 64th minute, and Ratanbala Devi sealed the victory with the fifth goal in the 80th minute.

This resounding victory places India at the top of Group B with nine points from three matches. Their goal difference of +22 is a testament to their attacking prowess and solid defense throughout the qualifying campaign. With this win, Iraq, along with Mongolia and Timor-Leste, have been eliminated from contention for a spot in the tournament. India's final group match is against Thailand. Only the group winner will qualify for the 12-team main event.

India last qualified directly for the Women's AFC Asian Cup in 2003. They automatically received a spot at the last edition in 2022 as the tournament hosts but were forced to withdraw due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the squad.