Crispin Chettri Describes India’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup Group as ‘Interesting and Challenging’
India women’s football team head coach Crispin Chettri described the Blue Tigresses’ group in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 as an ‘interesting and tricky’ one.
India were drawn in Group C alongside Japan, Vietnam, and Chinese Taipei during the official draw ceremony held at Sydney Town Hall on Tuesday.
“I believe we’ve got a group that is both interesting and, at the same time, tricky. Japan are among the elite teams in Asia. Vietnam and Chinese Taipei are also strong sides, and we can definitely compete against them and aim for positive results,” Chettri told AIFF from Australia after the draw.
Midfielder Sangita Basfore had the honour of being one of the draw assistants and picked out the ball containing India’s name. After carefully opening the slip and displaying it to the cameras, she proudly announced, “India!” — her voice filled with pride and joy.
This draw holds special importance as India qualified for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup through the merit-based qualifiers route for the first time. No one more fittingly represented that moment than Sangita, whose two crucial goals in the final match against Thailand secured India’s berth in Australia.
Speaking about her experience, Sangita said, “The entire experience at the draw here in Sydney was really memorable for me. I even got to see and touch the trophy, which was an incredible feeling. I had goosebumps on stage. But the biggest moment for me was visiting Stadium Australia in Sydney. When I stepped onto the pitch, it felt like a match was about to start.”
Coach Chettri agreed and added, “It’s been an amazing experience in Sydney. There’s a lot we’ve learned here. Representing the country at this level is truly surreal.”
What Are India’s Fixtures at the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup?
Currently ranked 70th in the world, India will kick off their campaign against Vietnam (ranked 37th) on March 4, 2026, in Perth, followed by a match against Japan (ranked 7th) on March 7, also in Perth. Their final group game will be against Chinese Taipei (ranked 42nd) on March 10 in Sydney.
India are quite familiar with these three teams, having played against each of them in recent years. The Blue Tigresses narrowly lost to Chinese Taipei at the Asian Games but had defeated them in a 2021 friendly. Vietnam and Japan got the better of India during the Olympic Qualifiers in 2023. Although the opponents are higher ranked, both Chettri and Sangita are hopeful of a competitive campaign, particularly against Vietnam and Chinese Taipei, given past close matches.
“We’ve already faced Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, and Japan in the past, and I can say from experience that we’re capable of competing against them. At no point did I feel we couldn’t beat them. We missed out earlier due to some mistakes, which we are working on now. Our coach is guiding us with small but important instructions—what to do and what to avoid. Based on that, we’ll plan properly and give it our best,” said Sangita.
Chettri added, “All three are tough teams, as you’d expect at the Asian Cup level. As head coach of Odisha FC, I faced club sides from these countries in the AFC Women’s Champions League last season, and it was a huge learning experience. I now have a better understanding of their playing styles and what to prepare for.”
While the Asian Cup is a big stage, the Blue Tigresses have their sights set on an even bigger dream — qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The AFC Women’s Asian Cup offers six direct and two intercontinental play-off spots for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil — a golden opportunity India is determined to seize.
“Our ultimate goal has always been to reach Brazil and play in the World Cup — to experience what that feels like. Now, we’re just one step away. We must give our best in Australia, represent our country with pride, and aim to qualify. We’ll take it one game at a time and focus on delivering strong performances,” Sangita said.
With 218 days to go before India’s opener against Vietnam at the Perth Rectangular Stadium, the preparations are already in motion, and every day will be vital.
“Now that we know our group, we must carefully select our friendly matches and prepare strategically. Staying united and putting in the hard work during training camps will help us get ready to face Asia’s best and aim for that World Cup spot,” said Chettri.
Sangita concluded, “Since we have enough time now, we should be playing matches against higher-ranked opponents. That will help us prepare better for March. When we face those three sides in the Asian Cup, we’ll be able to assess them better and play with confidence. Exposure to stronger teams will boost our belief and get us ready for the challenge.”
