India’s women’s football team to face Thailand, Mongolia, Iraq and Timor Leste in AFC Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Mar 27, 2025, 21:15 IST

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India's senior women's football team has been drawn in Group B of the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, alongside Thailand, Mongolia, Timor Leste, and Iraq. The qualifiers will be held in Thailand between June 23 and July 5. The group winners will secure a spot in the final tournament in Australia, taking place from March 1 to 26, 2026.

India’s women’s football team to face Thailand, Mongolia, Iraq and Timor Leste in AFC Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers

Team India (X Photo)

NEW DELHI: The India senior women's football team has been drawn in Group B of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 Qualifiers, alongside Thailand, Mongolia, Timor Leste, and Iraq. The draw took place at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Thailand will host Group B of the Qualifiers in a centralized single round-robin format between June 23 and July 5. The group winners will qualify for the final tournament, scheduled to be held across three host cities in Australia from March 1 to 26, 2026.
The teams were divided into five pots based on their seedings, which were determined by the FIFA women's world ranking published on March 6.
A total of 34 teams will compete for eight available spots in the 21st edition of the continental showpiece, joining the hosts Australia and the top three sides from the AFC Women's Asian Cup India 2022 - defending champions China PR, runners-up Korea Republic, and third-placed Japan.

The top six teams at the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 will qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup Brazil 2027, making the qualifiers a crucial step for teams aspiring to participate in the prestigious global tournament.
The draw has set the stage for an exciting and competitive journey for the Indian women's team as they aim to secure their place in the final tournament and potentially qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup. Their performance in the qualifiers will be closely watched by fans and experts alike, as they navigate through the challenges posed by their group opponents.
The centralized format of the qualifiers in Thailand will provide a level playing field for all teams, ensuring fair competition and minimizing the impact of travel and logistical factors. It will also allow the teams to focus solely on their on-field performances and tactical preparations.

Draw Result

Group A: Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan (H), Lebanon, Singapore, Bhutan
Group B: Thailand (H), India, Mongolia, Timor-Leste, Iraq
Group C: Myanmar (H), Bahrain, Bangladesh, Turkmenistan
Group D: Chinese Taipei, Indonesia (H), Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan
Group E: Vietnam (H), Guam, United Arab Emirates, Maldives
Group F: Uzbekistan (H), Nepal, Laos, Sri Lanka
Group G: Philippines, Hong Kong, China, Cambodia (H), Saudi Arabia
Group H: DPR Korea, Malaysia, Palestine, Tajikistan (H)

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