India to Face Giants Japan in AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 – Full Group & Fixtures Revealed!

During the Final Draw Ceremony on July 29, 2025, at Sydney Town Hall, the Indian women’s football team, the Blue Tigresses, was drawn into Group C of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, with Japan, Vietnam, and Chinese Taipei.

There are only the top two teams from each group and two best third-placed teams to qualify for the quarter-finals, therefore India will have to work hard in an extremely competitive group particularly against Japan who are ranked 7th in the world.

India’s Group Stage Fixtures – AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026

India will play three crucial group-stage matches in March 2026:

• March 4, 2026 – Vietnam vs India
  📍 Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth
• March 7, 2026 – India vs Japan
  📍 Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth
• March 10, 2026 – India vs Chinese Taipei
  📍 Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney

Meet India’s Group C Opponents AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026

India’s Group C Opponents: A Quick Look

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙩 𝙄𝙨 𝙎𝙚𝙩 𝙏𝙤 𝘽𝙚 𝙒𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝘼𝙨 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙮 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙨 #WAC2026 promises it all and the excitement begins today.

Who are your early favourites to lift the title on March 21, 2026? pic.twitter.com/BMFC6Ccj1Y

— #WAC2026 (@afcasiancup) July 29, 2025

Japan (FIFA Rank 7)

Japan is the top Asian team in the group. They’ve won the Asian Cup twice and made it to the semifinals in 2022, losing a close one to China, who ended up winning. They’re a favorite to win the whole thing, so they’ll be a really tough match for India.

Vietnam (FIFA Rank 37)

Vietnam got to the quarterfinals in 2022 and is ranked 33 spots higher than India in FIFA’s rankings. They haven’t won before, but they’ve been getting better and better, making them a strong team to face.

Chinese Taipei (FIFA Rank 42)

Chinese Taipei used to be a powerhouse, winning the Asian Cup three times. They also made it to the quarterfinals in 2022, losing a tight match on penalties. They might not be as strong now, but they have a great history.

India’s Qualification Journey: A Historic Win Over Thailand

India earned their spot in Australia through a thrilling performance in the qualifiers – including a crucial victory against a higher-ranked team in Thailand, where midfielder Sangita Basfore scored a spectacular brace. The win not only buoyed the Indian players’ spirits but also established that India would be returning to the biggest women’s football tournament in Asia.

The seeding for the final Round Draw was chosen on the basis of the FIFA Women’s World Rankings (as at June 12, 2025). As India ranked 70th in the world, they were placed in Pot 4, meaning they were guaranteed to draw at least one heavyweight like Japan.

Tournament Format & Road to Women’s World Cup 2027

The top two teams in each group, plus the two third-place teams with the best scores, will go to the quarter-finals.

The four teams that win their quarter-final games will automatically get a spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil.

Teams that lose in the quarter-finals will have another shot at qualifying through play-off matches for two more World Cup spots.

If a team loses in the final play-off round, they can still try to qualify for the World Cup by competing in inter-confederation play-offs for one last chance to get to Brazil.

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 is going to be played in five stadiums across three cities:

Sydney: Stadium Australia, Western Sydney Stadium

Perth: Perth Stadium, Perth Rectangular Stadium

Gold Coast: Gold Coast Stadium

📅 Quarter-Finals: March 13–15

📅 Semi-Finals: March 17–18

📅 Final: March 21 at Stadium Australia, Sydney

📅 World Cup Qualifying Play-Offs: March 19, Gold Coast

Will India Make a Mark at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026?

While India’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 slot in Group C is not easy – the confident midfield with Sangita Basfore, up-and-coming young talent, and learnt experiences from previous editions all present their opportunity for competition, surprise, and inspiration.

India’s chances at 2026 will not only be based around survival, they will not only be able to claim a serious status as competition at the forefront of Asian women’s football.

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