‘Would have asked for stronger opponents, but satisfied with the preparations’: India coach ahead of AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup campaign

Just over three weeks after the Indian senior team withdrew from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup following a winless group stage campaign, the Under-20 team will be harboring hopes of reaching the elusive World Cup spot via the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup.

The Young Tigresses qualified for the continental tournament for the first time in 20 years last August after topping their group in the qualifiers. The last time India participated in the tournament was in the 2006 edition, where the country exited the group stages.

Behind this historic qualification is Swedish coach Joakim Alexandersson, an outspoken tactician who always has a plan B up his sleeve. The 50-year-old was hired by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) as coach of the U-20 and Under-17 women’s team. The Swede not only guided the U-20s to the Asian Cup, but also helped the U-17s to their first qualification for Asia.

However, earlier this year, Italian Pamela Conti was appointed head coach of the U-17. This move, Alexandersson says, has certainly helped him maintain continuity with the same group of players.

«You get more time with the team to get to know the players well. I come from a completely different country and culture, so it took a while, but I think we are closer,» he says. Sports stars with less than a week to go for India’s campaign opener against Japan on April 2.

‘Satisfied’ with the preparations

Seven months have passed between securing qualification and the tournament itself. During this time, the Indian team played two friendly matches against Kazakhstan U-19 (India won 3-2, drew 1-1) and Uzbekistan U-20 (India won 1-0, 4-1). During a month-long preparatory camp in Sweden, the team competed against seniors from four local clubs (India lost 0-6 to Hammarby IF, won 4-0 against Täby FK, drew 1-1 against Enskede IK Dam, lost 1-2 to Karlbergs BK, won 5-2 against Alvsjo AIK).

In his backyard, Alexandersson also had some time to tour his wards for some sightseeing. «It was very cold when we went, like -10, -15 degrees. The weather improved in the last week. We went to the Indian embassy in Stockholm, had some good coffee and explored the city of Stockholm. That was fun.»

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The Indian contingent then arrived in Thailand on March 20, well in time for the tournament.

«I had asked for some stronger opponents to play against, but I know it was very difficult to invite other teams to India because they also had their preparations. But we played good matches and the time together with the team has been very important. The camp in Sweden was very good for us, to come and explore a completely different country and stay together. So I have to say that I am very satisfied with the preparations,» said the coach.

Hoping to ‘disrupt’ Japan and Australia

Unlike the senior Asian Cup where losing the quarter-finals did not take away a team’s chance of making it to the World Cup, here in the U-20 tournament only the top four teams qualify directly for the showpiece event.

This means India will have to advance to the semi-finals to book a place in the World Cup to be hosted by Poland later this year. But to do so, it will first have to overcome a number of heavyweights in Asia and the world.

Placed in Group C, India will play Japan, Australia and Chinese Taipei, with the top two teams and the top two third-placed sides from three groups making it to the quarter-finals. The Japanese finished second at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, while their seniors secured a third Asian Cup title by beating the Australians a week ago.

Despite the odds stacked against him, Alexandersson believes nothing is impossible. «We know it’s a tough group, but our goal from the start has been to qualify for the World Cup. I feel like these Japanese and Australian teams are not that experienced. Let’s see what happens if we can put some pressure on them. Maybe they’re not that used to this either. Hopefully we can get an outcome out of some situations and disrupt them.»

Alexandersson has told his players and staff that the next time they go to Sweden it should be during the summer months. And he hoped that by then he would have led the Indian team in the World Cup.

Published on March 27, 2026