India will take on heavyweight Japan in the crucial match of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup

The Indian women’s national team will face Japan in the second Group C match of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 at the Perth Rectangular Stadium on Saturday.

India are currently third in the group after losing 1-2 to Vietnam in the opening match, while Japan defeated Chinese Taipei 2-0.

Historically, Japan, eighth in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, has a clear lead over the Blue Tigresses (ranked 67th), having won all three previous meetings. The Nadeshiko scored 19 goals in those matches, the most recent being a 7-0 win in the 2023 Olympic qualifiers.

India have had two days to recover from the match against Vietnam and getting their players back in top condition for the match against Japan is high on head coach Amelia Valverde’s priority list tyu4.

«Of course we will adapt to whatever situation arises. At the moment the first focus was on recovery because we had a very physically demanding match,» she said.

Valverde is wary of the threat posed by Japan, which won the Asian Cup in 2014 and 2018, and the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

«We know Japan is a team that likes to keep possession of the ball, with a lot of dynamics. They like to dominate the game, but we have to prepare our own game. We hope to put in a strong performance and be very competitive again, like we were last Wednesday,» she said.

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“At certain times the game may require us to be tactically flexible.

«We will try from the first minute of the match. I have said in the past that the three opponents we face in our group are very different from each other,» she added.

«We have to focus our energy on our own team. We want to try to control the game and direct it in the direction we think is best, while adapting to their characteristics.»

Indian midfielder Sangita Basfore said the team had analyzed the mistakes from the match against Vietnam.

«We made a great effort against Vietnam, we did everything we could on the field, but now we have analyzed the game and the mistakes made in it,» she said.

“The plan is to improve in the next game and take those lessons into the next game against Japan.

«Japan is a very good team. We have to perform even better than before, and that is what we will try to do.»

Japan head coach Nils Nielsen said his side would look to create chances against India.

«I am confident we can create chances against India. They are a strong team with a lot of spirit, and although they were unlucky in their last game, we think we can put them under pressure. To score we have to really commit and fight for every ball.»

Published on March 6, 2026