How can India qualify for AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup?

With 4 points in the first two group stage games, India look promising in the race to top spot.

The Indian U20 Women’s team thrashed Turkmenistan on Friday to register their first three points in the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup. After failing to register a win in the opener against Indonesia, this is a strong comeback as the Young Tigresses handed a scarring 7-0 drubbing to Turkmenistan.

Hosts Myanmar and India are locked in a fierce race to claim the top spot in Group D, which will guarantee their place in the final tournament. Both Myanmar and India have accumulated 4 points so far in their first two games. At the moment, India sits at the top of the group only because they have a superior goal difference than Myanmar. With a positive goal difference of 7, the Indian team has an edge in the contest.

AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers Group D Points Table

Group D seems to be serving a thriller at the moment, going into the last round of group stage fixtures. India sits at the top with 4 points in their bag. Host Myanmar have the same number of points but with a lesser goal difference; they are in second position.

Not just Myanmar and India, but Indonesia also hope to spring up a late surprise. With two draws in their first two games, Indonesia are third in the group with a couple of points. The last group stage fixture would be a must-win for them.

The only team out of the race for the top spot are Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan had to suffer heavy defeats in both of their group stage games, leaving them stranded with their dreams of qualifying for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup shattered.

Myanmar and India face off in the decider

Hosts Myanmar and India will be locked in a battle to decide the winner of the group on August 10, in Yangon. This fixture will decide who will qualify for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup from Group D. Both teams are coming into this encounter with a similar record. With a win and a draw, Myanmar and India are unbeaten.

Hosts Myanmar started their campaign with a comprehensive 6-1 victory against Turkmenistan in the opener. However, they faced a stiff challenge in the following fixture against Indonesia. The match ended in a stalemate with both teams scoring two goals to bag a point from the game.

The Indians had to deal with a goalless draw in their opener against Indonesia, which would have dampened their spirits. But leaving the dismay behind, the Young Tigresses came back to assert their dominance against Turkmenistan in the second game. Now, the test will be of character as the dreams are up in the air. Team India aim to qualify for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup for the first time since 2006.

What if India play a draw against Myanmar?

With both Myanmar and India looking equally competitive, a draw is a possibility at the end of this decider. Joakim Alexandersson would want his girls to put any possibility of that sort to bed and cruise through.

However, good news for Indian fans is that a draw would not put India’s qualification bid in danger, as they will edge Myanmar on goal difference, sealing the top spot. Both Myanmar and India will end up with 5 points in case of a draw, but India’s positive goal difference of 7 as opposed to Myanmar’s 5 would see them book their tickets to Thailand.

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