AIFF Technical committee takes decision on Amelia Valverde's future as India senior women's football team's head coach

The decision comes in the wake of India’s disappointing show at the recent AFC Women’s Asia Cup in Australia.

Amelia Valverde will not continue as the head coach of the India women’s national football team after the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, following a decision taken by the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) technical committee.

The decision was made by the AIFF technical committee, chaired by IM Vijayan, and comprising key members including Shabbir Ali, Harjinder Singh, Victor Amalraj, Climax Lawrence, and Santosh Singh. The committee held discussions to review the team’s recent performances and overall trajectory before deciding against extending Valverde’s tenure beyond the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

“The Technical Committee thanked Amelia Valverde, who led the Indian women’s team as the head coach at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, and wished her the very best for her future endeavours.

The TC opined that with matches coming up for the women’s team in the April FIFA International Window, and the SAFF Women’s Championship to be held in June, this would be a good opportunity for an Indian coach to take charge. A final decision on the same will be taken soon,” the statement read.

Amelia Valverde’s little stint as manager

Amelia Valverde had been appointed on a contract running until the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, with a clearly defined short-term objective of leading India through the tournament.

Her appointment came after Crispin Chhetri had guided the team to qualification. Crispin was subsequently reassigned within the system, making way for the new coaching setup.

The campaign ultimately ended on a disappointing note, as India suffered defeats in all three of its group-stage fixtures at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.

The side went down to the Japan women’s national football team in its opening match, before losing to the Vietnam women’s national football team and Chinese Taipei women’s national football team in subsequent fixtures. Across the three matches, India conceded 16 goals while managing to score just twice.

Amelia Valverde’s appointment was intended to build on the platform created during qualification and elevate the team’s performance. However, the expected improvement did not materialise. Despite her international experience, including exposure to top-level women’s football, the team struggled to translate tactical adjustments into results on the pitch.

Decision marked after the AFC Women’s Asian Cup failure

The Technical Committee’s position presents a complex scenario as all of India’s women’s national teams are currently led by foreign coaches. Notably, both Amelia Valverde and Pamela Conti were appointed with the Asian Cup cycles in focus.

Pamela Conti, a former Italy international, is currently in charge of the Under-17 side and is set to lead the team at the upcoming continental tournament in May. In this context, any sudden shift in the approach toward foreign coaches could risk creating a sense of uncertainty within the system.

In an official statement, the All India Football Federation technical committee placed on record its appreciation for Amelia Valverde, acknowledging her role in leading the Indian women’s team at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, and extended its best wishes for her future endeavours.

The statement further noted that with fixtures scheduled during the April FIFA International Window and the upcoming SAFF Women’s Championship in June, the transition presents an opportunity for an Indian coach to take charge of the national team. A final decision on the appointment is expected to be taken in due course

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