Long camps, young blood and tactical clarity: how the women of India qualified for AFC Asian Cup 2026.

After years of dealing with a sense of apathy of stakeholders, cases of alleged intimidation and the Indian Women’s League (IWL), a little more than a side issue, the national football team of the Indian ladies has quietly qualified for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup next year.

This is the first time that the Blue Tigresses have reached the continental tournament via the qualifying route. Qualifications did not exist in 2003. In 2022, India won the tournament as a host.

The Crispin Chettri-Coached Squad at the top of group B after an unbeaten qualifying campaign, including dominant victories over Mongolia (13-0), Timor Leste (4-0) and Iraq (5-0), before performing a decisive 2-1 victory against the higher ranked Thailand.

Three years in the making

Vooruit Pyari Xaxa, who scored five goals for India in the qualifications for India, still remembers the heartache that she and her teammates members during the 2022 edition of the Asian Cup. After a aimless draw against Iran in his opening match, India was forced to withdraw from the tournament after a majority of his players tested positively on COVID-19.

«When I tested positively on Covid, it felt like the land opened under me. I cried a lot, but I hid my tears for my teammates so that they would not be discouraged. Unfortunately, most also tested positively. Sports star.

In three years later, the 28-year-old seems to have manifested the ticket from India to Australia, the host of the next edition.

«I had written down my dreams in my diary about five to six years ago. It is free to dream. After we qualified this time, I checked it off the list. Then the World Cup remains.»

After Pyari, Sangita Basfore was the next highest score of India in the qualifications, which took four times. But it was her brace in the winner-takes-all match against Thailand that closed a trip characterized by perseverance and patience. «I still have not returned mentally from that stadium in Thailand,» she says about the game, at the end of which she broke in tears.

In 2021, during the home camp for the Asian Cup, Sangita ran an ACL injury to her for almost three years offside. Although it took the Bengalian player the time to regain her rhythm and command in midfield, coach Chettri always believed in her potential.

«He gave me the confidence to go up the field and play a free role in midfield,» Sangita reveals.

That decision wore fruit in the 29th minute against Thailand. Anju Tamang passed the ball on to an additional Sangita, who took a touch and in the far corner from outside the box in full. Her second goal – the winner in the 74th minute – was a team that went directly from the training field.

Freshen up

«The set piece goal that Sangita scored, it was done in training for 53 days and then in three games, but it was used in the fourth competition. That is why longer camps are always useful,» says India head coach Chettri.

In the run-up to the qualifications in Thailand, the blue tiger tones trained for almost two months trained in the Padukone-Dravid Center for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru. The extensive camp enabled the team to play practice games against local parties and two international friendly matches against Uzbekistan, both lost 0-1.

Chettri, who took the lead at the end of January, believes that such long camps are particularly important in the context of Indian women’s football, where tactical basic principles are often underdeveloped.

«Women’s football and men’s football are completely different. The latter is completely professional; they earn money in Crores. But when it comes to women, as soon as the IWL is over, they are not so professional to take care of themselves.»

Plus

The first assignment from Chettri was the Pink Ladies Cup in the VAE, where India was confronted with Jordan, Russia and South Korea. That tournament, together with his Stint with Odisha FC in the AFC Women’s Champions League, gave him insight into where India was compared to stronger sides.

«I took a younger side because I knew technically that we might not be there with these teams, but we could be physical. I needed more energy on the field. Mentally I was building a team of players that could be suitable for all kinds of matches. Although I lost some players to injury, I needed the core,» he explains. I need good players who make a team great, not great players who think of their names instead of the badge. I think I have taken a risk (taking a young side), but the federation has supported me in this, and I think we know the result now. «

The 24-member team for the qualifications contained players such as Manisha Kalyan, Grace Dangmei, Soumya Guguloth, Elangbam Panthoi Chanu and Kiran Pisda-Die all have brought valuable overseas cluber experience.

«When our players go to Europe, they play on a certain intensity that we do not regularly get in IWL. With intensity you improve your decision -making. That helps when they are part of the national team and inspire others to get better.»

Improvement

«There were no shortcuts for success this performance was the result of a long-term vision and structured preparation,» said a release of All India Football Federation (AIFF), while announcing a USD 50,000 reward for the team.

The release also mentioned the impact of the Asmita competitions – launched a national initiative in 2023 – that contributed to an increase of 232% in registered female football players in the past year.

«How many people know about it? Can we share data about it? What we started is good, but we have to promote it, share data and be transparent. Now that everyone is aware, we have to make parents aware of it, so that good players get through,» Chhetri said.

«Although the federation and states have worked on improving the women’s game, the speed has been slow. This (qualification) will also stimulate this process,» says assistant -coach Priya PV «We have to improve scouting of the Grassroots. Last 15 years.

Road to Australia – and further

Next year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia will be the last edition that serves as a direct qualification match for the FIFA World Cup. The semi -finalists will earn direct qualification for the 2027 tournament in Brazil, while losing quarter -finally will dispute for two extra places by Play -offs. Teams that miss here still get one last chance via the inter-confederation Play-Offs.

«I show them dreams here. It is important because if you have a dream, only then you work there. After the game in Thailand, I think everyone has begun to believe in themselves. We miss that earlier,» says Chettri.

The Asian Cup will also act as a qualifying route for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, where all quarter -finalists continue to the second round of qualifications.

On July 11, the AIFF unveiled a ‘route map’ to support the preparation of the team at the tournament. This includes an early IWL season (September to January) and an 83-day camp spread over three phases. The plan represents «10-12 international friendly competitions and five to seven games with domestic teams».

“According to the draw that we get, we can devote a phase of the camp to each team. By the time the AFC comes, we have a camp of about 40 days and we play friendly matches against different countries with different playing styles. They can be an AFRO country, a European team with a lot of intensity, or even a Latin -American team that is very competent.

The draw will be held on July 29. Until then, the Indian team and the benefactors can dare to dream about a successful tournament-one that can become a turning point for women’s football in the country.

«It is high time we started to support them. They must feel wanted. They must feel wanted. I think we are going a long way,» concludes Chettri.