AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026: Can India still qualify after Chinese Taipei loss?
India struggle defensively as Chinese Taipei claim a 3-1 win
India’s campaign at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 came to a disappointing end after a 3–1 defeat to Chinese Taipei Women’s National Football Team in their final group stage match. The side led by Amelia Valverde finished the tournament without a single point, bringing their campaign to a frustrating close.
With the loss, India’s hopes of progressing further in the tournament are officially over. More importantly, the dream of securing a place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup through this competition also comes to an end.
The final answer to the qualification question is now clear: India cannot move forward in the tournament.
However, the scenario could have been very different. Let us take a look at the qualification situation and how India could have still advanced in the competition.
The perfect scenario that could have changed India’s fate
A win tonight could have completely changed the equation for India. With Vietnam suffering a defeat against Japan, three points in this match would have created a perfect mini head-to-head scenario between India, Vietnam, and Chinese Taipei.
In such a situation, the results against Japan would have been excluded, and the standings would have been determined only by the matches played among the three teams. That mini table could have opened a path for India to move ahead depending on goal difference and head-to-head results.
Another scenario that could have worked in India’s favor was a draw against Vietnam earlier in the group stage followed by a victory in this fixture.
That combination of results would have significantly improved India’s position in the standings and kept their hopes of progressing in the tournament alive.
However, with the defeat in the final group match, those possibilities remained only hypothetical, bringing India’s campaign to an unfortunate end.
What next for Indian Women’s Football?
What comes next for Indian women’s football? At the moment, the road ahead appears uncertain. With the campaign ending in disappointment, a long stretch of unanswered questions now looms over the future of the team.
The bigger debate that follows such a result is inevitable, who is to be blamed? Is it the players on the pitch, the coaching staff responsible for preparation and tactics, or the AIFF that oversees the broader development of the game?
Perhaps the answer lies somewhere in between.
Another important question also emerges: should the AIFF continue organizing exposure tours primarily against weaker opponents, or should the focus shift toward playing regular friendlies against stronger and more competitive teams?
Facing tougher opposition may expose weaknesses, but it is also the kind of challenge that drives improvement at the highest level.
For now, there are more questions than answers. The disappointment of the campaign will be around, and the search for accountability will continue. But if Indian football in general, not just the women’s team, but the entire ecosystem is to move forward, perhaps a change in approach is needed.
Only then we might see the fate of Indian football begin to change in the next cycle.
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Ayushman Sharma is a sports enthusiast with a deep love for football, following the game closely since 2018. A hardcore supporter of NorthEast United FC and FC Barcelona, he has also gained valuable on-ground experience by volunteering during FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Guwahati.