AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026: How can India qualify for the quarterfinals?

Though India lost 11-0 to Japan, they can still finish second in Group C!

The group stage of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 is reaching its climax as eight of the twelve teams will progress to the quarterfinals. Amelia Valverde’s Blue Tigresses have lost their opening two group games, but they are still in contention to qualify to the quarterfinals if they beat Chinese Taipei.

Let us take a look at how India can still make it through to the next round.

India’s performance in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 so far

With an eye on qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, the Indian women’s football team started their campaign against Vietnam on 4th March in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

The Blue Tigresses put up a tough fight but were heartbroken in the 90+4th minute as Vietnam scored a late goal to win 2-1.

Following their heartbreak in the first game, India took on Japan on 7th March. Ranked 8th in the Women’s FIFA Rankings, the two-time Asian champions completely outplayed and humiliated India, running riot with a 11-0 win to dismantle the Women in Blue.

Unlike their game against Vietnam, the Indian women’s football team didn’t find any rhythm against Japan, who were relentless throughout the ninety minutes.

Owing to the two losses, India sit at the bottom of Group C with a -12-goal difference.

Here’s how India can still qualify for the quarterfinals

Though they have lost their opening two games and have a bad goal difference, the Blue Tigresses can still go through to the quarterfinals in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. However, any chance of qualification would depend on how they beat Chinese Taipei in their last group game.

For starters, the India Women’s Football Team will be eliminated if they lose or draw against Chinese Taipei. Even a 1-0 win would not be enough as the Blue Tigresses would have to win at least by a two goal margin.

The Japanese women will face Vietnam in their final group game. It is likely that Japan will come out as the winners, which would mean that Vietnam, who lost to Chinese Taipei, would remain on three points after their three group games.

Chinese Taipei is currently on three points as well, having lost 2-0 to Japan and having picked up a 1-0 win over Vietnam. Though they have a worse goal difference than Vietnam, Chinese Taipei are currently second in Group C courtesy of head-to-head superiority, and this is exactly how India can go through as well in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

If the Indian women’s football team wins against Chinese Taipei, they will also end up with three points. Hence, a mini table between India, Chinese Taipei and likely Vietnam would be decided with the head-to-head goal difference between the three teams as they would have beaten each other.

In this ideal scenario of India beating Chinese Taipei 2-0 and Vietnam losing to Japan, here is what the mini table would look like…

Since Japan would not be a part of this mini-table, India’s 11-0 loss to Japan will be out of the picture, helping the Indian women’s team to even finish second in Group C.

India fought hard and lost 2-1 to 37th-ranked Vietnam in this tournament.

Can they go all guns blazing and beat 40th-ranked Chinese Taipei by more than two goals? Let us know your thoughts…

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