India U17 Women Arrive in Uzbekistan for Crucial Friendlies Ahead of AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers
The India U17 women’s football team has arrived in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, for two important international friendly matches that will form a key part of their preparations for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers.
The Young Tigresses reached the Uzbek capital on Tuesday, August 25, with head coach Joakim Alexandersson taking a 23-player squad for the closed-door matches against the hosts. India will face Uzbekistan at the UFA National Football Centre on August 27 and August 30, with both games scheduled to kick off at 10:30 IST.
For the young Indian side, these will be the first international friendlies of the current preparation cycle and an important opportunity to test themselves before the qualifiers in October.
India has been training in Bengaluru since July 16, building towards the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers scheduled from October 5 to 11 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The upcoming matches against Uzbekistan will give Alexandersson his first major opportunity to assess how the squad performs in an international environment.
India has been drawn in Group E of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers alongside hosts Malaysia, Iraq and Syria. With qualification for the continental tournament at stake, the two matches against Uzbekistan come at an important stage of India's preparations. Training sessions can help coaches develop structure, fitness and tactical understanding, but friendly matches provide a different kind of test. Players are required to make decisions under pressure, adapt to unfamiliar opponents and respond to changing match situations.
That is precisely the experience India will be seeking in Tashkent. The closed-door nature of the matches will allow the coaching staff to focus entirely on performance and experimentation. Alexandersson will have an opportunity to assess combinations across the pitch and determine which players are best suited to specific roles ahead of the qualifiers.
The first match on August 27 will provide the initial benchmark, while the second meeting on August 30 could allow India to make tactical adjustments and measure their response against the same opponent. For a young squad, the chance to play two international matches within four days could prove particularly valuable.
Building on a historic U17 campaign
India's U17 women's programme enters this cycle with growing confidence. Last year, the Indian team qualified for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup on merit for the first time. The Young Tigresses then created further history by reaching the quarter-finals of the continental tournament.
That performance established a new benchmark for the age group. The objective now is not only to qualify again but also to build on the experience gained during the previous campaign. AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan emphasised the importance of continued international exposure as India prepares for the next qualifying challenge.
“Last year, our U17 Women’s team qualified for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup on merit for the first time and created history by reaching the quarter-finals,” he said. “We want to build on that momentum. It is important that the girls continue to get quality opposition in friendly matches so they can keep developing, gain valuable experience and be better prepared for the qualifiers.”
The long-term objective is clear. India wants to qualify for the Asian Cup again and go further in the 2027 edition. The Uzbekistan friendlies represent the first significant step towards that target.
A 23-player squad gets its opportunity.
Head coach Joakim Alexandersson has selected a 23-player squad covering all areas of the pitch. Munni, Sanatombi Devi Irengbam and Sonam Ghosh form the goalkeeping unit for the tour. The defensive group includes Abhista Basnett, Ambalika Chanu Khundongbam, Joyshini Chanu Huidrom, Ritu Badaik, Sharvari Mane and Taniya Devi Tonambam.
In midfield, India have Alva Devi Senjam, Bonifilia Shullai, Julan Nongmaithem, Monika Devi Wairokpam, Pritika Barman, Redima Devi Chingkhamayum, Silky Devi Sorokhaibam, Thandamoni Baskey and Yashica Haribabu. The attacking unit comprises Anushka Kumari, Deepika Kumari, Joya, Nidhi and Nira Chanu Longjam.
With two matches available, Alexandersson could use the fixtures to evaluate both established combinations and alternative options.
The focus will not necessarily be on the results alone. At this stage of preparation, understanding the team's strengths and weaknesses could be equally important. The coaching staff will want to assess defensive organisation, transitions, pressing, ball retention and the ability to create chances against international opposition.
The friendlies will also provide players with an opportunity to adapt to the demands of representing India outside the training environment.
Once the Tashkent tour concludes, India's attention will increasingly turn towards Malaysia. The Young Tigresses will face a challenging qualifying group featuring Malaysia, Syria and Iraq. Every match will carry significant importance in India's attempt to return to the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup.
That makes the upcoming Uzbekistan games more than routine friendlies. They are an opportunity to test systems, build match fitness and develop the confidence required for competitive international football. The August 27 and 30 matches may be played behind closed doors, but their significance for India's preparations is considerable.
For Joakim Alexandersson and his 23-player squad, the immediate goal is to make the most of every minute on the pitch in Tashkent. For Indian women's football, the larger objective is even clearer: build on last year's historic breakthrough, qualify for the Asian Cup once again and continue pushing the Young Tigresses towards a stronger future on the continental stage.
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