India U-17 women's team begin preparations for AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers

Joakim Alexandersson takes charge of the Blue colts again

The India U-17 women’s team’s preparations for the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers commenced on Wednesday, July 16, 2026, with the first batch of 24 players reporting for camp-cum-trials at The Sports School in Bengaluru.

The camp marks the beginning of preparations for the Qualifiers, which will be held in Malaysia from October 5 to 11, 2026. India have been drawn in Group E alongside hosts Malaysia, Syria and Iraq. Players born on or after January 1, 2010, are eligible for the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027.

The road to Asian glory begins

Head coach Joakim Alexandersson has taken charge of the U-17 women’s team for the new qualification cycle. Pamela Conti, who coached the team in the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026, departed at the end of her contract in May.

Alexandersson guided the previous batch to qualification for the 2026 tournament and also led the U-20 side in the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026.

Less than three months ago, the India U-17 women team created history by reaching the Asian Cup quarter-finals for the first time. The current camp represents the first step in building on that historic achievement, intending to qualify for back-to-back AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cups for the first time.

While 24 players have initially reported to the camp, the selection process remains ongoing. Additional players of the India U-17 women are expected to join following further scouting across the country.

Earlier this month, Alexandersson attended the Khelo India Performance Assessment Camp in New Delhi, where he assessed a number of young players. The Swede also visited the FIFA-AIFF Telangana Talent Academy in Hyderabad as part of the player identification process.

The scouting process will continue during the inaugural AIFF U-17 Women’s Youth League 2026-27, which kicks off in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, on July 18. Later this month, Alexandersson will travel to the competition to monitor performances and identify additional players for the national team camp.

Further evaluations will take place over the coming weeks before the Young Tigresses’ preliminary squad for the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers is finalised and announced.

India U-17 women’s historic run under Pameala Conti

The Indian U-17 women’s national football team did something extraordinary under Pamela Conti in the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026. They played a brilliant brand of football and made it to the quarter finals for the first time in the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup. After reaching the quarter finals of the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup, they were defeated by the host China.

Pamela Conti won the SAFF U-19 with the U-17 girls, and then the Indian side returned to the AFC tournament after 21 years. They faced defeats against Japan and Australia in their group stage games, but in the last game, they played in a very dominant way and won the game against Lebanon, booking a spot in the quarter finals.

Against China, they lost 3-0, but Pamela Conti and her football system introduced the modern brand of football in the Indian U-17 women’s national football team.

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