The Indian senior women’s football team has revealed its 26-player roster for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, which will be hosted in Australia in 2026. India is positioned in Group C and is set to commence its campaign against Vietnam on March 4 at the Perth Rectangular Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 16:30 IST.

The team’s next match will take place against Japan on March 7, again at the same venue and time. India will face its final group stage opponent, Chinese Taipei, on March 10 at the Western Sydney Stadium, with the match starting at 14:30 IST. According to information from the All India Football Federation, the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams. The quarter-final winners will secure spots at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027. The losing teams from the quarter-finals will enter play-offs for the remaining two AFC World Cup qualification slots. The two teams unsuccessful in the play-offs will have another opportunity to qualify for Brazil through the Play-off Tournament.

Preparation and Squad Composition

The team, known as the Blue Tigresses, completed a four-week training camp in Turkiye before arriving in Perth on February 11. Among the squad members, eight players participated in the last Asian Cup in 2022, which was hosted in India.

Those players include Sweety Devi Ngangbam, Shilky Devi Hemam, Sanju, Anju Tamang, Pyari Xaxa, Grace Dangmei, Manisha Kalyan, and Sowmiya Narayanasamy. The previous tournament was cut short for India after only one match due to a COVID-19 outbreak. The current lineup also features six players who may make their international debuts, including defenders Sarita Yumnam and Sushmita Lepcha, midfielders Jasoda Munda, Sanfida Nongrum, Aveka Singh, and forward Kaviya Pakkirisamy.

Key Players and Experience

Grace Dangmei stands out as the most experienced player in the squad, having scored 23 goals in 91 appearances. The squad’s senior member is Anju Tamang, who is 30 years old, while Shilky Devi Hemam, at 20, is the youngest player on the team, having also participated in the previous Asian Cup edition. In terms of club affiliations, East Bengal FC boasts the highest representation with eight players in the squad, followed by Sethu FC with six and Sribhumi FC contributing four players. Additionally, Aveka Singh and Manisha Kalyan are the only representatives playing abroad, with clubs in Denmark and Peru, respectively.

Complete Squad and Coaching Staff

The finalized roster for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Panthoi Chanu Elangbam, Shreya Hooda, Sowmiya Narayanasamy. Defenders: Astam Oraon, Juli Kishan, Martina Thokchom, Nirmala Devi Phanjoubam, Sanju, Sarita Yumnam, Shilky Devi Hemam, Sushmita Lepcha, and Sweety Devi Ngangbam.

Midfielders: Anju Tamang, Aveka Singh, Babina Devi Lisham, Jasoda Munda, Sanfida Nongrum, and Sangita Basfore.

Forwards: Grace Dangmei, Kaviya Pakkirisamy, Lynda Kom Serto, Malavika P, Manisha Kalyan, Pyari Xaxa, Rimpa Haldar, and Soumya Guguloth.

The coaching staff is led by head coach Amelia Valverde, with assistant coaches Crispin Chettri and Priya PV, alongside goalkeeping coaches Eli Avila and Mario Aguiar, and strength and conditioning coach Jose Sanchez.

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