The Indian women’s football team has taken a giant leap forward. With a 2-1 win over Thailand in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifier, their first qualification in 22 years, the Blue Tigresses have kept alive the dream of reaching the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil.
It was a night of grit and glory, with midfielder Sangita Basfore’s brace sealing victory against higher-ranked Thailand on July 5th, 2025. But while the celebrations were heartfelt, head coach Crispin Chettri reminded his players of the bigger challenge ahead:
“The top of the mountain is the bottom of another mountain. We’ve made it to the Asian Cup. Our next target is the World Cup. We must keep dreaming.”
That next mountain will arrive in March 2026, when India plays the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, the tournament that will ultimately decide who represents Asia in Brazil.
The Qualification Path: How India Can Make It to Brazil
The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup doubles up as Asia’s final qualifier for the World Cup. Here’s what the road looks like for India:
Direct Route – Semifinals
If India reaches the semifinals of the Asian Cup, they automatically secure a spot at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. This is the clearest and most straightforward path.
Quarterfinal Safety Net – Play-ins
Even if the Blue Tigresses lose in the quarterfinals, their campaign won’t be over. All four quarterfinal losers will compete in playoff matches. Two winners from this round will still book their tickets to Brazil.
Last Chance – Inter-Confederation Playoffs
Should India fall short again, they will have one final opportunity. The losers of the play-ins head to the inter-confederation playoffs, where 10 teams from across the globe will battle for three remaining World Cup spots.
Group Challenges
India’s challenge won’t be easy. In the group stage of the Asian Cup, they have been drawn with:
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Japan (FIFA Rank 7): former World Cup champions and perennial Asian giants.
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Vietnam (Rank 37): a side that played in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
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Chinese Taipei (Rank 42): experienced campaigners with a strong regional record.
For a team currently ranked 70th, this is arguably the toughest group in the competition. The opening match against Vietnam on March 4 could set the tone, while the clash with Japan will be a true test of resilience.
A Story of Redemption
For Indian women’s football, this moment feels redemptive. In 2009, the team was delisted from FIFA rankings due to inactivity. In 2022, hosting the Asian Cup at home, a COVID outbreak forced India to withdraw after just one game, crushing dreams of qualification at the time.
The qualification this time is a revival story. The emergence of the Indian Women’s League in 2016, exposure for players abroad, and grassroots growth in football-loving states like Manipur and Odisha have all contributed to this resurgence. Players like Sweety Devi, who captained India in the qualifiers, and youngsters such as Hemam Shilky Devi and Naorem Priyangka Devi, are part of a new generation unafraid to dream bigger.
The Bigger Picture
India has never qualified for the senior FIFA Women’s World Cup. The team featured in the U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2022 as hosts, but at the senior level, Brazil 2027 represents unentered territory.
Reaching the semifinals in Australia would be historic. Even falling short could still provide pathways through the playoff system. Unlike past decades, where the odds were high, this time the structure offers India a genuine chance.
For the Blue Tigresses, the Asian Cup is more than just a tournament; it is a real shot at rewriting history. Whether through the direct route or the longer playoff path, the dream of standing on the World Cup stage is closer than ever.
The road is difficult, and the group is unforgiving, but for the first time in decades, the dream feels possible. The mountain is tall, but as Coach Chettri said, this is only the beginning of another climb.
Yash Desai is a renowned journalist with over 10+ years of experience covering sports around the world. He began his career as a News Reporter in Delhi, India, and got an opportunity to cover several World events, including the Olympics, Paralympics, and World Games. He often felt that women’s sports are sidelined and given step-motherly treatment by the mainstream media. To bridge this gap and to build an equal playing field, Yash co-founded FemaleInSports and is currently working as a Lead Editor here.
