India will be facing stiff challenges in the group stage of the AFC Under-20 Women’s football championship main draw from Japan, Australia, and Chinese Taipei. The final draw ceremony took place in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday.
India is one of the 11 teams (eight group winners and three best-ranked runners-up) to make the cut for the tournament, joining host Thailand.
The Joakim Alexanderrson-led side qualified for the tournament after topping its group ahead of Indonesia, Myanmar, and Turkmenistan in the qualifiers held in August.
India will face a tough challenge from Japan, the last edition’s runner-up, and also a record six-time champion. It also won the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2018 and was runner-up in 2024.
Meanwhile, Australia finished in third place in the 2024 edition of the U-20 Women’s Asian Cup, while Chinese Taipei was knocked out in the group stage. The competition is set to take place from 1st to 18th April next year.
