AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026: What happened when India played against Japan last time?

India set for tough test against Japan

India is set to face footballing giants Japan in their second match of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026. After a spirited performance against Vietnam that ended in a narrow 2–1 defeat due to a late injury-time goal, the Indian side will be eager to bounce back and keep their campaign alive.

However, an even tougher challenge now awaits as they prepare to take on the formidable Japan team, one of Asia’s most dominant forces in women’s football.

Despite the setback in their opening game, India showed resilience and fighting spirit, and they will be hoping to carry those positives into this crucial encounter.

The last time India faced Japan, it turned out to be a difficult outing for the Blue Tigresses as the Japanese side’s quality and experience proved overwhelming for them.

As the two teams prepare to meet again, it is worth revisiting that previous encounter to understand what unfolded and what lessons India might take into this important fixture.

What happened when the two teams played earlier?

The last time India faced Japan was during Round 2 of the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament on October 26, 2023, at the Lokomotiv Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

On that occasion, India endured a difficult outing as Japan produced a dominant second-half performance to register a 7–0 victory.

India, coached by Thomas Dennerby at the time, began the match with a disciplined defensive approach. The Blue Tigresses lined up in a compact 5-3-2 formation, aiming to absorb pressure from a technically superior Japanese side.

For much of the first half, the strategy worked well, as India managed to limit Japan to just one goal before the break.

Japan took the lead in the 17th minute when Yoshino Nakashima entered the penalty area from the left and chipped the ball into the top corner. Despite the early setback, India held firm for the remainder of the half.

The defensive trio of Ashalata Devi, Sweety Devi, and Ritu Rani put in a resilient display at the back, while goalkeeper Shreya Hooda made several crucial saves to keep the scoreline at 1–0 heading into halftime.

However, the game changed dramatically after the restart. Japan began exploiting the wings more effectively, delivering dangerous low crosses into the penalty area. Within just 11 minutes of the second half, the Japanese side struck four times in quick succession.

Nakashima added her second goal of the match, while Honoka Hayashi, Mina Tanaka, and Miyabi Moriya all found the net to extend Japan’s lead to 5–0 by the 56th minute.

Japan continued their relentless attacking display as Kiko Seike and Hikaru Naomoto added two more goals later in the match to complete a 7–0 victory.

India did attempt a late consolation in stoppage time when Ritu Rani launched a long ball into the box. Amid the scramble, Anju Tamang managed to get a shot away, but it sailed over the crossbar as Japan comfortably saw out the match.

As the two sides prepare to meet again, India will be hoping to put that difficult night behind them and deliver a much stronger performance against one of Asia’s most formidable teams.

When & where to watch the match live?

The clash between India and Japan at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 will be streamed live on FanCode in India, with kickoff scheduled for 4:30 PM IST.

Fans can either purchase a single match pass or opt for the complete tournament pass to enjoy full coverage of the competition.

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