The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced a reward of USD 50,000 for the Senior Indian Women's National Team following their outstanding performance in the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers in Thailand. The Blue Tigresses secured their spot in the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia after a dominant qualifying campaign.
India's qualification journey was marked by a flawless record, winning all four of their matches in convincing fashion. They started with an emphatic 13-0 victory over Mongolia, followed by a 4-0 win against Timor-Leste, and a 5-0 result against Iraq. The team capped off their group stage with a crucial 2-1 win against hosts Thailand. Sangita Basfore's brace in the match against Thailand was instrumental in securing the victory and qualification.
AIFF recognized that these results were the culmination of sustained planning and developmental efforts over the past few years. They emphasized that this achievement was the result of a long-term vision and structured preparation. In recent years, AIFF, in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), has undertaken several initiatives to strengthen the grassroots and youth structures in women's football. One such initiative is the ASMITA Women's Football Leagues, which witnessed the successful conduct of 155 leagues across the country from 2023 to 2025 at the U13, U15, and U17 levels. In the 2023–24 edition, 6,305 junior players participated, and this number rose to 8,658 in 2024–25. As a result of these efforts, the number of registered women footballers in India has seen a 232% increase over the past year.
The team's preparation for the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers included a 53-day national camp, during which the squad not only engaged in local practice matches in Bengaluru but also competed in two FIFA Women's International Friendlies against Uzbekistan, who also qualified for the continental tournament.
India last qualified directly for the main draw of the Women's AFC Asian Cup football 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. This victory marks their return to the Asian Cup after 22 years and their first qualification through the qualification route.
Looking ahead, the AIFF has committed to ensuring the best possible preparation for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in Australia in March 2026. The Federation will work closely with all stakeholders to facilitate extended training and exposure tours against top international opposition to prepare the team for the challenges ahead. The Asian Cup next year will also serve as a qualification for the World Cup in 2027 and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
