New Delhi
India’s U20 women’s football team has been placed in Group D alongside Myanmar, Indonesia, and Turkmenistan for the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup Thailand 2026 Qualifiers. The draw was held on Monday at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Group D matches will be hosted by Myanmar between August 6 and August 10 in a centralised round-robin format. India will aim to top their group to qualify for the main tournament, which will feature 12 teams for the first time.
In total, 33 teams were divided into eight groups. Group A features defending champions DPR Korea, while Vietnam hosts Group B. Australia leads Group C, and China PR hosts Group E. Six-time champions Japan are placed in Group F, while Uzbekistan and Korea Republic will host Groups G and H respectively.
The group winners and three best runners-up will join hosts Thailand at the final tournament to be held from April 1–18, 2026. The top four teams in the final tournament will also earn qualification for the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup 2026.
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Northern Mariana Islands, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, and Turkmenistan are all seeking their first-ever appearance in the Asian Cup.
India, placed in Pot 2 for the draw, hopes to secure a spot in the final 12 and make a strong push towards World Cup qualification. The expanded format promises exciting action as more nations vie for the prestigious title.
