India U20 Women Face Japan in Asian Cup Opener

Pathum Thani, Thailand, April 1, 2026 - The Indian under-20 women's national football team will face a formidable challenge when it opens its AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup campaign against six-time champions Japan on Thursday at Thammasat Stadium here.

The match, set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. IST, marks India's return to the continental tournament after a 20-year absence, with the Young Tigresses qualifying by topping their group in last August's preliminaries in Myanmar. Their previous appearance came in 2006, when they exited in the group stage. This edition, hosted in Thailand, offers India a chance to secure one of four spots in the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in Poland later this year, with the top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed sides advancing to the quarterfinals.

India finds itself in a tough Group C alongside host Thailand's rivals Japan, Australia on April 5, and Chinese Taipei on April 8. Japan, known as the Young Nadeshiko, enters as a favorite, boasting a record of technical excellence and consistency in youth competitions. The Asian side won the world title in 2018 and has dominated the U20 Asian Cup with six victories. Japan's head coach Akira...