With one day to go before India’s women’s national football team’s first match of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 against Vietnam, on March 4, a sudden disruption has left the team in a tough spot. A majority of the jerseys and kits sent by the All India Football Federation did not fit the players. Due to the failed arrangements, the team will play in local playing kits from Perth. The AIFF has sourced 55 jerseys through a local Italian supplier in Perth, which has a matching set of light blue and red jerseys available.
As per sources, the package consisting of the team’s kits and jersey that was dispatched from Delhi got delayed due to a logistics issue. But the problem did not end there. After the package arrived at the hotel the players found the kits and jerseys to be too small in size. Only 20% of the 26-member squad could fit into them. Faced with this challenge, the team had to request the Australian organisers for additional time to delay their equipment check and official team photoshoot.
Players like Sweety Devi, Manisha Kalyan, Grace Dangmei, Sangita Basfore, Panthoi Chanu, were some who took the concern further to the federation and urged them to look into the matter. They mentioned that the challenge has hurt the team’s preparation ahead of their first match of the AFC Women’s Asia Cup 2026.
No sponsorship for Blue Tigresses
The Blue Tigresses were the first team to arrive in Perth, Australia, on February 11, to begin their preparation for the tournament. But the sudden challenge thrown to them with days ahead of the main event has brought in concerns in the team as they aim for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification.
The national women’s football team will be competing in the AFC Women’s Asia Cup 2026 without any official kit sponsor. The AIFF was said to be in discussion with Nivia Sports but it did not come into agreement as time was limited to prepare new kits for the team and get them shipped to Australia. Meanwhile, the team’s previous partnership with Performax had also ended in December 2025 leaving them with no sponsors in hand.
After years of wait the Blue Tigresses are returning to compete but faced with the sudden challenge, the team hopes it does not affect their performance.
