India U-17 women's team head coach Pamela Conti announces 23-member squad for AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026

India to start their AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup campaign against Australia

The India U-17 women’s national team, after a brief camp in Gurugram, India, reached Suzhou on Monday, April 27, ahead of their AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026.

India, who qualified for the tournament after 21 years, will begin their campaign with a match against Australia (May 2, 17:00 IST on Pitch 8), followed by Japan (May 5, 17:00 IST on Pitch 4) and Lebanon (May 8, 13:00 IST on Pitch 8) in Group B.

All of India’s matches will take place at the Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre pitches.

The top two teams in the group and the two best third-placed teams among all three groups will make it to the quarter-finals. Further, the four quarter-final winners will qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026.

The AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026 will be streamed live on the AFC Asian Cup YouTube Channel.

India gears up for the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 campaign

The Young Tigresses arrived in Suzhou early morning on Monday, April 27, and will hold their first training session in the evening.

Under Italian head coach Pamela Conti, who was appointed in January, India have had a continuous training camp of more than three months, the bulk of which was held in Bengaluru.

Being an U-17 side, they won the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship title in February, and in March, won two friendly games against Myanmar in Yangon.

Earlier this month, they played three friendly matches against Russia in Sochi, and while they lost all three, it provided valuable experience of playing strong opponents ahead of the Asian challenge.

After returning from Russia, the Young Tigresses continued their training camp in Gurugram from April 20 to 26 before departing for China.

India’s 23-member squad for AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026

Goalkeepers: Munni, Surajmuni Kumari, Tamphasana Devi Konjengbam.

Defenders: Abhista Basnett, Alena Devi Sarangthem, Alisha Lyngdoh, Divyani Linda, Elizabed Lakra, Joyshini Chanu Huidrom, Ritu Badaik, Taniya Devi Tonambam.

Midfielders: Alva Devi Senjam, Bonifilia Shullai, Julan Nongmaithem, Olivia Chanu Ningthoujam, Pritika Barman, Redima Devi Chingkhamayum, Thandamoni Baskey.

Forwards: Anushka Kumari, Anwita Raghuraman, Joya, Pearl Fernandes, Valaina Fernandes.

Head coach: Pamela Conti

Assistant coaches: Vincenzo Conti and Nivetha Ramadoss

Goalkeeping coach: Mario Aguiar

Strength and conditioning coach: Amit Yadav

India’s schedule at AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026

• 17:00 IST, May 2: Australia vs India (Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre Pitch 8)
• 17:00 IST, May 5: India vs Japan (Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre Pitch 4)
• 13:00 IST, May 8: India vs Lebanon (Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre Pitch 8)

• Live stream: AFC Asian Cup YouTube Channel

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