India has been placed in Group B alongside Japan, Australia, and Lebanon for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026. This marks India’s return to the competition after 21 years, following victories over Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in the qualifiers. The upcoming matches against strong teams like Australia, Japan, and Lebanon pose a significant test for India’s youth women’s program.
Japan, a four-time champion and 2014 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup winner, is considered a top contender in the tournament. With a rich history of success at both continental and global levels, Japan’s presence in the group adds to the challenge for India. Australia, determined to improve on their previous performance, secured their spot by defeating Singapore and the Northern Mariana Islands. Lebanon, making their debut, earned qualification by overcoming Kuwait and Iran.
In Group A, hosts China will compete against Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar, while Group C features a strong lineup of East Asian teams including North Korea, South Korea, the Philippines, and Chinese Taipei. The tournament, scheduled from May 1 to May 17, 2026, in Suzhou, China, will see the top teams from each group, along with the best third-placed teams, advancing to the quarter-finals. The semi-finalists will then secure berths in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup 2026 in Morocco.
