India vs Timor-Leste Preview, team news, lineups & prediction | 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifier

The match will be held on the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium.

The Indian women’s national team will look to continue their dominant start to the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers when they face off against Timor-Leste Women at the 700th Anniversary of Stadium Chiang Mai on Sunday (29 June 2025). Crispin Chhetri’s aims to keep up their momentum from the last game and put in another ruthless attacking display to oust this shaken Timor-Leste side.

The Stakes

India

For India women, slipping up is not an option as they aim to secure a berth in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. The Blue Tigresses have started their qualification campaign really well, picking up a record-setting 13-0 thrashing of the Maldives Women in their last game. However, consistency is the name of the game if Crispin Chhetri’s side really wants to top their group and qualify for the continental competition.

To do so, they need to continue playing dominant, attacking football and be at their ruthless best in the final third. He will urge his players to keep playing innovative, fast-paced attacking football to torment their opponents and get another big win. A major win will, of course, further raise the confidence levels of the players to keep their qualification dreams strong.

But dropping any points can be disastrous and result in a huge setback to India’s qualification hopes.

Timor-Leste

Having only picked up one point from two games, Timor-Leste Women’s dreams of pulling up an ultimate underdog story now seem to have withered away. Even if they win their last two games, they are still unlikely to top the qualification group. However, Vicente Freitas’ players will definitely keep going and fight until their very final game in this group.

They will need to be defensively really strong and maintain a compact shape to frustrate the Indian ladies and neutralise their threat. They’ll also need to be at their clinical best in the attacking transitions to score goals and potentially pull a surprise. A win can be hugely beneficial for raising the players’ spirits and self-belief, but another loss will more or less end their morale levels.

Team News

Crispin Chhetri did a solid job in protecting his players from injuries in the Maldives game. Nobody was sent off either. He should have a fully fit unit available for this.

Timor-Leste didn’t suffer any injury scares in their last two games. They should also have their full squad available.

Head-to-Head Record

This game will be marking the very first time that the India Women and Timor-Leste Women teams meet each other in a competitive match.

Also Read: Top five biggest wins by the Indian women’s football team

Predicted Lineups

India (4-4-2)

Elangbam Panthoi (GK), Sanju, Shilky Devi, Sweety Devi, Kiran Pasda, Sangita Basfore, Ratanbala Devi, Manisha Kalyan, Soumya Guguloth, Pyari Xaxa, Rimpa Haldar

Timor-Leste (4-2-3-1)

Gorette Da Costa (GK), Idalia Alves, Brigda Da Costa, Deonisia Guimaraes, Maria Da Conceicao, Natacia Flora, Joana Barbosa, Sonia Gomes, Elvira Da Silva, Deonizia Silva, Dolores Silva Costa

Players to Watch

Pyari Xaxa (India)

Pyari Xaxa was at her devastating best in India’s win over the Maldives, playing a major role in helping them get a huge 13-0 win to kick off the qualification campaign. The Odisha WFC forward is flying high on momentum after scoring five goals in the last match. She will be gunning to keep up this kind of goal form against the Timor-Leste side.

She will aim to trick their defenders with her clever off-the-ball movement to get into all the prime locations inside the final third. Xaxa will be tasked to get at the end of chances and put away opportunities ruthlessly to give her side a major edge and guide them to a dominant win.

Dolores Silva Costa (Timor-Leste)

Dolores Silva Costa has arguably been one of Timor-Leste Women’s biggest attacking threats in their Women’s Asian Cup qualification campaign so far. She was able to trouble the Iraq defenders in their first game with her stellar movement, but just lacked that special spark in the final third.

Dolores will be looking to be a threat on the transitions for her side, linking up nicely with her teammates to help create chances. She will need to be opportunistic in taking care of chances in prime locations and finish off whatever comes at her disposal to be a thorn for the Blue Tigresses.

Did you know?

• Pyari Xaxa is only the second Indian player to have scored five goals in one AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifier game.
• India’s 13-0 win over Maldives was their biggest-ever win in an AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualification encounter.
• Timor-Leste are yet to score a single goal in their 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers.

Telecast

The 2026 AFC Asian Cup qualifier between India and Timor-Leste will take place on Sunday, 29 June 2025, at the 700th Anniversary Stadium. It will kick off at 2:30 PM IST. The match will be shown on the Changsuek YouTube channel and on the Thai Women’s Football Facebook Page.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram.