India arrived in Australia ahead of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, landing in Perth on February 11, three weeks before their first match against Vietnam on March 4. The team is undergoing intense training in Perth, with daily on-field and gym sessions, along with strategic team meetings and opponent analysis in the evenings.
During their stay in Australia, India secured a 5-0 victory in a friendly match against Perth RedStar FC and is gearing up for another match against Perth Azzurri. Head coach Amelia Valverde expressed satisfaction with the team’s preparation and highlighted the importance of being settled early in the host country.
Adjusting from the cold Turkish winter to the warm Perth summer, the team has focused on acclimatizing to the weather conditions. Valverde emphasized the significance of time in adapting to the time difference and climate, ensuring the players are well-prepared with proper hydration and nutrition for the upcoming matches.
The journey towards the AFC Women’s Asian Cup began in Gurugram, where the team trained post the IWL season’s first half. Following a productive month of training and preparation, including friendly games in Turkiye, India is focused on continuous improvement and aims to showcase their best performance in the upcoming tournament.
