India U20 women's team set for big challenge against Japan in AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup opener

India takes on Japan on 2nd April

The India U-20 women’s national team are ready to kick off their U-20 AFC Women’s Asian Cup campaign when they face Japan U20 in their opening game on Thursday, 2 April (2026).

Joakim Alexandersson’s side will face a formidable challenge against one of the favorites to win the competition when they face off at the Thammasat Stadium, with the Young Tigresses looking to come up with a special upset.

The Stakes

India U-20

The India U20 women’s team will be playing in their first AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup in two decades after having been able to qualify for the tournament in style.

However, the real challenge begins now for Alexandersson’s ladies, as they will need to bring their absolute A-game to these matches to be able to sustain themselves against difficult oppositions.

For the Young Tigresses to even have a chance of holding their own against the dangerous Japan U20 side, they will need to hold together a really sturdy defensive line and operate as one stubborn unit.

They’ll also need to be smart and brave with their attacking movement to be able to trouble their backline and salvage something from the game.

If India U20 are actually able to win this, it’ll be a monumental result and genuine proof of Alexandersson’s positive work with the girls. A draw won’t be bad either, but a crushing loss can be demotivating with some big games ahead.

Japan U-20

With the Japan women’s national team recently winning the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, the U20 side will now be under some pressure to follow that up with a dominant display in the U20 Women’s Asian Cup.

Japan has been the dominant team in the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup history, winning the tournament six times in the 21st century and they finished as the runners-up in the 2024 edition.

That is why they’ll be even more determined to kick off the 2026 U20 Women’s Asian Cup with a dominant performance, which means they’re unlikely to slack off against the Indian side.

Akira Ijiri will be urging his players to show heightened energy levels to win every single duel in commanding fashion, and for them to be innovative and ruthless with their attacking work to torment the Indian side.

A commanding win can definitely build the confidence within the Japanese players to win the tournament, but if they end up dropping points against India U20, that would be a huge early setbacks to their ambitions.

Team News

Joakim Alexandersson has named a strong 23-member squad for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup, which includes promising players like Sibani Devi and Sulanjana Raul.

Akira Ijiri has also chosen a strong 23-player squad for the tournament, with his attacking line boasting the presence of Feyenoord youngster Mao Itamura. Sako Nawa had to withdraw from the squad because of injury recently.

Head-to-Head Record

Matches Played – 2

India U20 Women wins – 0

Japan U20 Women wins – 2

Draws – 0

Predicted Lineups

India U-20 (4-2-3-1):

Monalisha Devi (GK), Cindy Colney, Shubhangi Singh, Nishima Kumari, Remi Thokchom, Pooja, Neha Sillay, Anju Chanu, Sibani Devi, Lhingdeikim Kipgen, Sulanjana Raul

Japan U-20 (4-2-3-1):

Uruha Iwasaki (GK), Yuna Aoki, Mitsuki Ota, Tamami Aso, Natsume Kingetsu, Rinka Higuchi, Miyu Matsunaga, Moka Arai, Mao Itamura, Naysumi Tago, Annon Tsuda

Players to Watchout

Sulanjana Raul (India U-20)

Sulanjana Raul has proven to be a major asset for Joakim Alexandersson in the India U20 women’s team set-up, having produced some excellent performances over the last years.

She has been impressive coming up through at the East Bengal women’s team, and has consistently scored many goals for their side. Raul has a pretty solid international record with six goals, and she also scored a crucial brace in the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers.

Raul, however, now faces the biggest challenge of her young career so far against the fierce Japanese players. She will need to be at her unpredictable best in terms of her off-the-ball movement, final third passes to help elevate her side’s game.

Raul will also need to be ruthless in finishing off any chances that come her way to be able to help the Young Tigresses get a positive result against Japan U20.

Mao Itamura (Japan U-20)

Mao Itamura has already proven herself as the future of Japanese women’s football and has been playing for Feyenoord’s women’s team since joining them in January 2025.

Itamura has scored 11 goals in 32 appearances for the Dutch side and has represented Japan across multiple levels already. The 19-year-old is a highly dangerous forward, who can torment defenders with ease with her excellent off-the-ball and ability to dribble past players with ease.

She will look to help Japan begin the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup in a solid fashion in the upcoming clash, with the teenager looking to make use of her quickness and unpredictability to destabilize the Indian backline.

Itamura will be determined to get amongst the goals and finish off chances efficiently to prove exactly why she is held in such high regard in Japanese women’s football.

Did you know?

• India reached the quarterfinals of the 2002 AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup,  their best finish in the tournament’s history.
• Japan have won 37 of their 53 matches played in the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup, and they also won the first-ever edition in 2002 in India.
• India were unbeaten in their qualification round for the 2026 AFC U20 women’s Asian Cup, scoring eight goals in the three games.

Telecast Details

The AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup clash between India and Japan will take place on 2 April 2026 at the Thammasat Stadium, Pathun Thani.

The match will kick off at 6:30 PM IST. It will be available to watch on live stream on FanCode.

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