Five Indian players to watch out for in AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026
India will begin their AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 campaign against Japan on April 2.
The Indian Women’s National Team created history by qualifying for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in all age groups, including U-17, U-20, and senior team.
While the senior team, managed by Amelia Valverde, had a disappointing campaign, losing all of their games and failing to advance beyond the group stages, Joakim Alexandersson will now lead the India U-20 Women’s team in the competition hoping for a different outcome.
Even before playing their first game of the competition, these group of players made history by becoming India’s first U-20 women’s squad in almost two decades to qualify for the tournament. They enjoyed an undefeated qualifying campaign, collecting seven of the nine possible points without conceding a single goal.
They have been placed in Group C in the main competition, the 2026 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup, alongside Japan, Australia, and Chinese Taipei. All three teams that are part of the group are higher ranked as India were the team that was drafted in from Pot 4.
While the task of getting past the group is challenging and requires tactical expertise, innovation, and superior skills on the field, the youthful Blue Tigresses are not anticipated to be deterred by these challenges and will give their best to raise the Indian tricolor high in Thailand.
While the team works hard on the field, let’s take a look at five Indian players from the 23-man roster that might play a major part in determining India’s fortunes in the main competition.
Monalisha Devi Moirangthem
The Sribhumi FC goalkeeper is likely to start in goal for Joakim Alexandersson’s team in the 2026 U-20 AFC Women’s Asian Cup and play an important role. Monalisha, who is only 19 years old, already has a wealth of experience, playing for the Indian senior women’s national team in 2025.
She was also part of the Indian team that competed in the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Monalisha is a regular at Sribhumi FC and is well-known for her excellent shot-stopping ability in 1v1 scenarios, in addition to her rapid reflexes.
She is a modern-day goalkeeper who excels with the ball on her feet and dominates the box in set-piece scenarios.
Monalisha is one of the key reasons India is participating in this tournament; she produced a stunning last-ditch stop off the line in India’s last qualifier game against Myanmar, preserving India’s clean sheet and securing all three points and qualification.
Shubhangi Singh
The captain of the team as well as the leader of the backline, Shubhangi Singh will have a major role to play for the Indian U-20 women’s side in organizing her team and defenders against attack heavy oppositions like Japan and Australia.
She played an important part in the qualifying campaign, guiding the team to the competition after 20 years while keeping her defense impeccable and conceding no goals.
Shubhangi, a 19-year-old center-back from Uttar Pradesh, has extensive experience on the Indian women’s football circuit.
She has about 20 caps for the Indian U-20 side and has established herself as a regular in at club level with Gokulam Kerala FC at such a young age.
Shubhangi has started and played all of the games in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, therefore she has experience playing against top teams all around the world and would play an important role in reading the play and instructing her teammates on the pitch against tougher opponents.
She is also a significant threat to the young Blue Tigresses in set plays, as demonstrated by her brace in India’s 7-0 win against Turkmenistan in the qualifiers.
Pooja
Pooja, a midfielder by trade, is widely acknowledged for her outstanding work in the center of the pitch, connecting the team’s defense and offense. Pooja’s goal separated India U-20 from Myanmar U-20 in the last qualification game, securing India’s spot in the 2026 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup.
Pooja is well-known for her exceptional work ethic, and many consider her to be the team’s propellant. She is a good presser who is constantly seeking to win the ball by going aggressively on the front foot. She is also press-resistant and can keep the ball under her feet with confidence even when the opposing players come hunting for it.
Pooja also helps the attack by making late runs into the box to come on the end of crosses or cut-backs from her fellow wingers and fullbacks.
She would be critical to the Blue Tigresses’ midfield in keeping hold of possession and breaking down opposition attacks.
Neha Sillay
Neha, the team’s left winger, will be one of the team’s primary attacking outlets against stronger teams, as her exceptional ability to take on defenders, along with her rapid pace, will be an X-factor in such games.
Neha made waves in the Indian Women’s football circuit when she was just 17 years old, demonstrating her skill at the IWL level with opportunities at HOPS FC and Odisha FC.
She now plays for Nita FC, where she has two goals and a couple of assists this season. She made her senior NT debut in December 2024, scoring twice against Maldives.
Neha often drifts in from the left flank to position herself on the edge of the box to provide threatening crosses into the corridor of uncertainty for her attackers to convert.
Neha is not only a fantastic dribbler and playmaker, but she is also a clinical finisher with an excellent work rate, which will come in helpful against teams who are attack-minded.
Sulanjana Raul
While there are several outstanding attackers in the Indian roster, including Lhingdeikim, Shilji Shaji, and Sibani Devi, Sulanjana Raul stands out as one of the most fascinating players to watch.
The East Bengal FC forward is frequently used as a secondary striker behind the primary attacker.
Sulanjana is recognized for her outstanding movement inside the opposing box, where she creates space for her strikers while unsettling defenders with her off-ball movement.
She is a continuous threat to opposing defenders because she is always ready to pounce on every second ball, to win it and link up with her teammates or to score herself.
At just 18 years old, she has established herself as one of the starters of the start studded East Bengal senior team managed by Anthony Andrews.
She is coming into the tournament in brilliant form having scored in three of the five games in the 2025 SAFF Women’s Club Championship and scoring five goals in the ongoing Indian Women’s League campaign.
Who will India face in the first game of the 2026 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup?
The Indian U-20 Women’s team will kick off their AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 campaign against Japan on April 2, 2026.
Who is the head coach of the Indian U-20 women’s National team?
The Indian U-20 women’s NT is managed by Swedish tactician Joakim Alexandersson.
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Shyam Sundar is an Indian football fan turned writer who has been covering the sport since 2023, after following it closely since 2020. He has reported on the ISL, I-League, IWL, and Indian national team matches. A passionate football enthusiast, he holds a special place in his heart for Chennaiyin FC and Manchester United.