Which teams will India senior women's team face in Turkiye?

India play three closed-door friendly matches as part of their preparation for the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026.

The Indian senior women’s football team is set to step into a crucial phase of its build-up to the AFC Asian Cup 2026 in Australia, with a series of three closed-door international friendlies scheduled in Antalya, Türkiye, this January.

The Blue Tigresses first play FC Metalist 1925 Kharkiv (Ukraine) on January 18, followed by FC Zürich Frauen (Switzerland) on January 21, and FC Schlieren (Switzerland) on January 24, in the city of Manavgat, around 75 kilometres from Antalya.

Facing experienced European club opposition, the Blue Tigresses will use these matches to sharpen their tactical identity, improve match fitness, and measure themselves against higher-tempo football ahead of the continental showpiece. Let’s take a look at the teams India will be up against.

The Indian senior women's team have departed for Türkiye with 26 players. The #BlueTigresses 🇮🇳 will play three friendly matches against FC Metalist 1925 Kharkiv 🇺🇦 on January 18, FC Zürich Frauen 🇨🇭 on January 21, and FC Schlieren 🇨🇭 on January 24.More details 👉… pic.twitter.com/vUtPU13vZm

— Indian Football (@IndianFootball) January 15, 2026

FC Metalist 1925 Kharkiv (Ukraine)

FC Metalist 1925 Kharkiv’s women’s team is a powerhouse of Ukrainian women’s football. FC Metalist is unbeaten since October 2025, scoring 33 goals in 8 games.

Originally competing as Zhytlobud-1 Kharkiv, the club was rebranded under the Metalist 1925 banner in 2024 and competes in the Ukrainian Women’s League, where they consistently finish at the top end of the standings.

FC Zurich Frauen (Switzerland)

One of Switzerland’s most decorated women’s football clubs, FC Zurich Frauen, competes in the Swiss Women’s Super League, the top division of women’s football in the country. They have dominated for decades with a long list of league and cup triumphs, making them one of the benchmark teams in Swiss football.

In the last 8 games the club has managed to secure 7 wins and currently stands at 4th in the league table. They have 24 league titles and 16 Swiss Cups to their name, which makes them a very decorated club in Switzerland.

FC Schlieren Women (Switzerland)

FC Schlieren’s women’s team plays in National liga B, the second-tier women’s league in Switzerland. While not as high-profile as FC Zurich, Schlieren are competitive at their level and bring a spirited, hardworking style to matches.

Facing a lower-tier Swiss team gives India a chance to implement match tactics and rotation while assessing squad dynamics.

Fixtures of the Blue Tigresses

The Blue Tigresses will play three matches in Turkiye as part of their January friendly tour:

• January 18, 2026: India vs FC Metalist 1925 Kharkiv — Emirhan Sport Center, Antalya
• January 21, 2026: India vs FC Zurich Frauen — Emirhan Sport Center, Antalya
• January 24, 2026: India vs FC Schlieren — Evrenseki/Ilıca Stadium, Antalya

All matches kick off at 17:30 IST

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