India draw tough Group C in AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026
India will face Japan, Vietnam, and Chinese Taipei in Group C of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026. The top two teams and two best third-placed sides progress to the quarters. The tournament doubles up as FIFA World Cup 2027 qualifier.
HYDERABAD: India were drawn with Japan, Vietnam, and Chinese Taipei in Group C of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 in the Final Draw ceremony held at the Sydney Town Hall on Tuesday.
Placed in position C3, the Blue Tigresses will begin their Women’s Asian Cup with a match against Vietnam on March 4, 2026, at the Perth Rectangular Stadium. India will then face Japan on March 7 at the same venue, before squaring off against Chinese Taipei on March 10 at the Western Sydney Stadium.
Group A, hosts Australia were drawn alongside Korea Republic, Islamic Republic of Iran, and Philippines. Group B contains DPR Korea, China PR, Bangladesh, and Uzbekistan.
The top two sides from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter-finals. The four quarter-final winners will qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027. The losing quarter-finalists will contest the play-offs for the two remaining direct spots allocated to the AFC for the World Cup. The two play-off losers will have another chance of qualifying for Brazil via the inter-confederation play-offs.
The quarter-finals will be played from March 13 to 15, and the semi-finals are scheduled for March 17 and 18, in Sydney and Perth. Sydney’s Stadium Australia, which also hosted the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Final, will be the venue for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Final on March 21. The World Cup qualifying play-offs for the losing quarter-finalists will be held in the Gold Coast on March 19.
