Indian women's football team to play friendlies against Myanmar

The Indian women’s football team played against Uzbekistan recently.

The Southeast Asian football scene is buzzing with activity, and women’s football is taking center stage. The Indian women’s football team are set to play two friendly matches against Myanmar during the FIFA window on 10 and 13 July.

Both fixtures will take place in Myanmar, providing the Blue Tigresses with valuable exposure and experience against a closely matched opponent.

These matches, held on FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying matchdays, will be a valuable opportunity for both teams to assess their strengths and weaknesses as they strive for regional and international success.

Myanmar women’s football has seen steady growth in recent years. The team currently sits at 49th in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, the highest position among ASEAN nations.

They have consistently reached the knockout stages of the AFF Women’s Championship, the regional tournament for Southeast Asia, and finished runners-up in the 2019 edition. Players like captain and star striker Win Theingi Tun are familiar faces, known for their pace and finishing prowess.

Indian women’s football team, ranked 57th in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, is another force to be reckoned with in Asia. They have emerged as strong contenders in the region, reaching the semifinals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2022. Players like forward Loitongbam Ashalata Devi and midfielder Manisha Kalyan are key figures, showcasing exceptional technical skills and strategic awareness.

The year 2024 has seen mixed performances from the Indian women’s football team. Indian women’s football team kicked off the year by participating in the Turkish Women’s Cup in February, where they performed admirably and finished as runners-up behind Kosovo.

Their next challenge came in the form of two friendlies against the higher-ranked Uzbekistan team in Tashkent. Despite a heavy 0-3 defeat in the first match on 31 May, the team showed resilience and improvement, securing a hard-fought 0-0 draw in the second match on 4 June.

The upcoming matches against Myanmar are particularly significant for India. Myanmar (54), though slightly higher in the FIFA rankings, presents a comparable challenge to the Indian side. These friendlies are expected to be closely contested and will provide much-needed game time to the players.

India’s head coach, Chaoba Devi, is yet to announce the squad for these fixtures. The matches will serve as an essential part of the team’s preparation for future international competitions.

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