AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers: India vs. Thailand – A Winner-Take-All Showdown!

by Chittu Shetty July 4, 2025

The stage is set for a thrilling climax in Group B of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, as India’s Blue Tigresses prepare to face Thailand’s Chabakaew in a winner-take-all encounter.

Both teams have navigated their campaigns with impressive results, leading to this high-stakes final fixture on July 5th. India started their journey with a massive 13-0 win over Mongolia, followed by a commanding 4-0 victory over Timor-Leste. Meanwhile, Thailand also began strongly with a 4-0 win against Timor-Leste, before demolishing Iraq with a 7-0 scoreline.

In the penultimate game, India registered a 5-0 win over Iraq. This meant Thailand needed at least an 11-0 win over Mongolia to match India’s statistics precisely, a feat they achieved dramatically by scoring their 11th goal with the very last kick of the game. As a result, both teams are now dead level on points, goal difference, and goals scored, making this match nothing short of a virtual final.

The stakes couldn’t be higher: if the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, it will proceed directly to a penalty shootout to determine who secures the coveted ticket to Australia. This rare group stage shootout rule shows just how evenly matched these two formidable sides have been.

Despite the tight race, India coach Crispin Chettri emphasized his team’s focus on performance. “It was another strong showing from the girls, and going into the final match with a perfect record gives us great confidence,” Chettri stated, though he expressed disappointment over two disallowed goals against Iraq that could have given India a crucial advantage. “We’ll keep our minds on the things we can control and focus on the last game.”

The squad is buzzing with confidence, especially after midfielder Phanjoubam Nirmala Devi netted her spectacular first international goal against Iraq. “I’m absolutely delighted to have scored my first goal for the country. More importantly, we played really well today and got the result we wanted,” said the 22-year-old. Veteran Sangita Basfore (68 caps) praised the youngsters, noting, “There are a lot of new and young players in this squad, and they’ve also adjusted very well here. We always have good chemistry.”

The Blue Tigresses also carry an emotional motivation into the match, dedicating their efforts to teammate Soumya Guguloth, who was ruled out due to a nasal bone fracture. “We want to play and win the last match for Soumya,” affirmed Sangita. Adding to the team’s strength is the return of senior midfielder Anju Tamang (29), who, after recovering from injury, has started the last two games and is quickly regaining her rhythm. “I’m feeling better both mentally and physically, and I’ve been giving my best. Now, it’s most important for us to perform our best against Thailand,” Tamang shared.

All eyes will be on this high-stakes encounter as India and Thailand battle it out for a spot in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.

– Quote and Picture credit AIFF Media

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