India Drawn in Group B for AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, Set to Battle Thailand, Mongolia, Timor Leste, Iraq

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The India senior women's football team has been placed in Group B of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 Qualifiers, alongside Thailand, Mongolia, Timor Leste, and Iraq. The draw was conducted at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday, March 27, 2025.

Thailand will host the Group B fixtures in a centralized single round-robin format from June 23 to July 5. Only the group winners will progress to the final tournament, which will take place across three cities in Australia from March 1 to 26, 2026.

Qualification Process and Tournament Overview

A total of 34 teams will compete in the qualifiers, aiming to secure one of the eight available spots for the 21st edition of the Continental showpiece. They will join hosts Australia and the top three teams from the AFC Women's Asian Cup India 2022 - China PR (defending champions), Korea Republic (runners-up), and Japan (third-placed).

Additionally, the top six teams from the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 will earn direct qualification to the FIFA Women's World Cup Brazil 2027.

India's Recent Form in 2025

The Indian women's team has had a mixed run of results in the 2025 season so far. Their year began on a high note with a commanding 11-1 victory against Maldives in a friendly match played in Bengaluru on January 2.

Following this, India participated in the Pink Ladies Cup 2025 in the UAE, facing stiff competition from international teams. They secured an impressive 2-0 win over Jordan on February 20. However, the next two matches saw the team struggle, suffering a 0-2 defeat against Russia on February 23 and a 0-3 loss to South Korea on February 26.

Despite the setbacks, the exposure to strong opponents will likely benefit the Indian squad as they prepare for the upcoming qualifiers.

Looking Ahead

The Indian team, led by experienced players and promising youngsters, will now focus on their preparation for the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers. With Thailand being the host, the conditions will be a key factor, but India will be aiming to put up a strong performance in their bid to qualify for the main tournament.

Football fans will eagerly watch as the Blue Tigresses take on their Group B rivals, hoping to see them make their mark on the continental stage once again.