Pathum Thani (Thailand), April 1 – The Indian U20 women's national football team is set to begin its AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup Thailand 2026 campaign against the formidable Japan on Thursday, in a bid to end a 20-year-long wait to compete in the tournament.
For India, this is more than just an opening match; it's the beginning of a carefully planned journey, spanning months, across continents, and with a clear identity in mind.
India qualified for the tournament for the first time in two decades, and head coach Joakim Alexandersson emphasized both realism and ambition ahead of the opener.
"We are very aware that we are new to this scene with the India team. We know we are facing tough opponents, and we respect them," said the Swede.
"But we also have a mindset that we want to get through this group and qualify for the World Cup. That would be fantastic for the entire country," he added.
India's preparation for the tournament has been extensive and methodical.
From friendly matches in Kazakhstan to a month-long training camp in Sweden, the focus has been on developing a squad capable of handling the demands of elite competition.
"We have been together continuously for three months," Alexandersson said.
"Before that, we had friendly games in Kazakhstan. We have also been to Sweden for a one-month camp, and we invited Uzbekistan to India as well.
"So the preparation has been good. I think we are ready for this tournament in a good way. Since the qualifiers in Myanmar, we have had some very focused work. We have evolved considerably – technically, tactically, and also mentally as a group. We are confident that our preparation has put us in the best possible position," Alexandersson explained.
Standing in India's way in the opening match is one of the world's most formidable sides.
Japan, the record six-time champions of the U20 Asian Cup, arrive as one of the favourites, with a long-standing reputation for technical excellence and consistency at the youth level. The Young Nadeshiko were also world champions in 2018.
Head coach Akira Ijiri made his side's ambitions clear.
"Our goal is clear. We want to break through the group stage and win the World Cup. We will do our best to achieve this goal."
Placed in a competitive Group C alongside Japan, Australia (April 5), and Chinese Taipei (April 8), India's path to the knockout stage looks improbable.
The top two teams, along with the two best third-placed sides across three groups, will advance to the quarterfinals.
The final four from this tournament will qualify for the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup Poland 2026.