The Indian Women’s National Football Team’s new head coach, Amelia Valverde, may receive a contract extension soon after the team’s exit from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.
Valverde was appointed the head coach of the Indian team ahead of the tournament. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is yet to make a public release on her extension but is currently in talks. Valverde was appointed as the Indian women’s team head coach on a short-term contract which will include this month.
Since Valverde’s inclusion, the Blue Tigresses have improved in their performance and are fighting back. Though the team ended up losing all three fixtures that they played in the group stage match in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, the AIFF was impressed with Valverde’s work. The final decision on her contract will be made once she submits a final report on her performance since the appointment.
The Blue Tigresses had made their first appearance in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, marking India’s first appearance in the tournament after two whole decades. Under former head coach Crispin Chhetri, the team had qualified on merit as the head coach in the qualifiers. After Valverde’s departure, Chhetri was removed from the get-tole and the assistant coaching position, making it permanent this year.
Chhetri was later demoted to the position of assistant coach on the team.
India’s campaign in the AFC Women’s Asia Cup 2026
On Wednesday, March 4, the Indian women’s national football team began their campaign at the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup with a loss to Vietnam by 1-2. The Blue Tigresses had received their qualification in the tournament after 23 years and were placed in Group C alongside Vietnam, Chinese Taipei and Japan. In the second Group C match they suffered a 0-11 loss to Japan on Saturday, March 7.
Ahead of the match, coach Valverde had made three major changes in the starting XI. Juli Kishan and debutants Aveka Singh and Sarita Yumnam were brought in replacing players Grace Dangmei, Nirmala Devi Phanjoubam, and Shilky Devi Hemam.
Despite the loss, India progressed to the quarter-finals after finishing second in Group C. However, India got exited from the campaign after facing the defeat to Chinese Taipei by 1-3 defeat to Chinese Taipei in their last and final Group C match on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
