The India Under-17 women’s national team, after a brief camp in Gurugram, reached Suzhou, China, on Monday for the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026.

India, which qualified for the tournament after 21 years, will begin its campaign with a match against Australia, followed by Japan and Lebanon in Group B.

The top two teams in the group and the two best third-placed teams among all three groups will make it to the quarterfinals.

Moreover, the semifinalists will qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026. The Young Tigresses arrived in Suzhou on Monday morning and will hold their first training session in the evening.

Under Italian head coach Pamela Conti, who was appointed in January, India has had a continuous training camp of more than three months, the bulk of which was held in Bengaluru.

It won the SAFF U19 Women’s Championship title in February and won two friendlies against Myanmar in March. Earlier this month, they played three friendly matches against Russia in Sochi, and while they lost all three, it provided valuable experience of playing strong opponents ahead of the Asian challenge.

After returning from Russia, the Young Tigresses continued their training camp in Gurugram from April 20 to 26 before departing for China.

India squad for AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026:

Goalkeepers: Munni, Surajmuni Kumari, Tamphasana Devi Konjengbam.

Defenders: Abhista Basnett, Alena Devi Sarangthem, Alisha Lyngdoh, Divyani Linda, Elizabed Lakra, Joyshini Chanu Huidrom, Ritu Badaik, Taniya Devi Tonambam.

Midfielders: Alva Devi Senjam, Bonifilia Shullai, Julan Nongmaithem, Olivia Chanu Ningthoujam, Pritika Barman, Redima Devi Chingkhamayum, Thandamoni Baskey.

Forwards: Anushka Kumari, Anwita Raghuraman, Joya, Pearl Fernandes, Valaina Fernandes.

India’s group-stage schedule for U-17 AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026:

• May 2 — Australia vs India — 5 pm — Pitch 8, Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre
• May 5 — India vs Japan — 5 pm — Pitch 4, Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre
• May 8 — India vs Lebanon — 1:00 pm — Pitch 8, Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre

Published on Apr 27, 2026