In Perth, March 3 India's lack of recent international game experience could pose a challenge when they face higher-ranked Vietnam in their opening group match of the AFC Women's Asian Cup football tournament on Wednesday.
Ranked lowest in the group of four teams, along with Japan and Chinese Taipei, India has not played an international match since October 2025, losing 0-2 and 1-2 against Iran and Nepal, respectively.
Instead of playing international matches, India opted to play against club sides during a four-week camp in Turkey, which the Blue Tigresses arrived in Perth on February 11.
Since then, the Indian team has played friendly matches against two Australian club sides.
There was a FIFA international match window in November, but India did not play any matches.
Amelia Valverde, Costa Rica's head coach for the 2015 and 2023 FIFA Women's World Cups, took charge in January after Crispin Chhetri, who was assistant coach during the qualification round, was in charge.
Vietnam, on the other hand, has played four international matches in February, two against Uzbekistan and China, both strong teams in the continent, winning once and losing thrice.
Ranked 36 in the FIFA list, compared to India's 67, Vietnam's women's team is a rising force, having qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. They also reached the quarter-finals of the previous Asian Cup.
Vietnam has also won both their previous clashes against India in the AFC Women's Asian Cup, both in the group stage, scoring multiple goals in both occasions (3-0 and 2-1). However, this will be the first meeting between the two sides in the competition since 2003.
India, although, is hoping to perform well and reach the knockout round, which will allow them to compete for qualification to the 2027 FIFA World Cup for the first time.
The top two teams from each of the three groups, along with the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter-finals. The four quarter-final winners will qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.
The losing quarter-finalists will compete in the playoffs for the remaining two direct spots allocated to the AFC for the World Cup. The two playoff losers will have another chance to qualify for Brazil via the playoff tournament.
India will face Japan on March 7 here, while their final Group C match will be against Chinese Taipei on March 10 in Sydney.
A draw or an unlikely win against Vietnam on Wednesday will boost India's chances of at least finishing third in the group. Japan is a world-class women's football team, and India can only hope for the best against them.
In that sense, the final group match against Chinese Taipei on March 10 in Sydney could be crucial for India's fortunes.
Chinese Taipei (40th) is ranked below Japan and Vietnam but above India.
India head coach Valverde is confident in her team
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"We couldn't finish the group stage four years ago, but we are back here again and have a chance to prove ourselves. So there's a new possibility – we have to represent our team in the best manner," said Valverde in the pre-match press conference.
"We are very positive heading into this tournament. In Turkey, we focused on hard work and preparation. We know the type of football Vietnam has been playing. They have been doing well so we expect a tough challenge."
India qualified for the showpiece on merit for the first time, and Valverde said her players are determined to show their capabilities.
"We have been together for many matches, so we are well aware and ready to field the best version of the Indian team. Our goal is to compete strongly in every game and give our players the platform to improve and show their capabilities."
A mix of experience and new faces
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The Indian squad of 26 has six uncapped players. Eight of them were part of the last Asian Cup that was hosted by India in 2022 -- Sweety Devi Ngangbam, Shilky Devi Hemam, Sanju, Anju Tamang, Pyari Xaxa, Grace Dangmei, Manisha Kalyan and Sowmiya Narayanasamy.
India withdrew from the 2022 tournament after just one game due to a COVID outbreak despite staying inside a bio-secure bubble in Mumbai. That team of 2022 had stalwarts in Ashalata Devi, Aditi Chauhan and Ratanbala Devi, who all have not been in the scheme of things for some time.
Grace Dangmei is the highest-capped player and top-scorer in India's squad with 23 goals in 91 appearances. Just like in the 2022 edition squad, the 20-year-old Shilky Devi Hemam is the youngest in the Indian squad.
Midfielder Anju Tamang, the senior-most player in the squad, was ruled out of the tournament due to an injury a few days back and Karishma Shirvoikar has been drafted in.