India U17 Women Begin Bengaluru Camp Ahead of AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers

The Indian U17 women’s football team has begun preparations for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers, with the first batch of 24 players reporting for a camp-cum-trials at The Sports School in Bengaluru.

The camp, which began on July 16, marks the first step in a new qualification cycle for the Young Tigresses as they attempt to build on their historic performance at the 2026 continental championship and secure back-to-back appearances at the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup for the first time. India will compete in the qualifiers from October 5 to 11, 2026, with their Group E matches scheduled to be held in Malaysia. The Young Tigresses have been drawn alongside hosts Malaysia, Syria and Iraq, with the group winner progressing to the final tournament in China.

Players born on or after January 1, 2010, are eligible to compete in the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 cycle.

With less than three months remaining before the qualifiers, the Bengaluru camp will play a crucial role in identifying and developing the core group that will eventually travel to Malaysia.

Swedish coach Joakim Alexandersson has taken charge of the U17 women’s national team for the new qualification campaign. He replaces Pamela Conti, whose contract concluded in May after she guided the Young Tigresses at the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026. Alexandersson, however, is already familiar with India's women's youth football structure.

He was in charge of the previous U17 batch that successfully qualified for the 2026 Asian Cup and has also worked with the Indian U20 women’s team, leading them at the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026. His familiarity with the age-group system could prove valuable as India begins another rebuilding process with a fresh generation of players.

The immediate objective will be to create a competitive squad capable of navigating the qualification campaign in October. However, the broader challenge will be to ensure that the progress achieved by the previous batch is sustained over multiple cycles.

India Looking to Build on Historic Asian Cup Campaign

The new U17 team begins its journey with a significant benchmark already established. Less than three months ago, India's U17 women created history by reaching the quarter-finals of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup for the first time. That performance represented an important breakthrough for Indian women's youth football and demonstrated the potential of a structured development pathway at the international level.

The challenge now is to ensure that the achievement is not a one-off. Qualification for the 2027 edition would see India reach consecutive AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cups for the first time, providing another generation of young footballers with exposure against Asia's strongest teams.

The qualification format also leaves little margin for error. With India competing against Malaysia, Syria and Iraq in Group E, every match could prove significant in determining who advances to the continental finals. Playing all their matches in Malaysia will also mean facing the hosts in their own conditions, adding another challenge to India's campaign.

While 24 players have initially reported to Bengaluru, the squad is far from finalised. The All India Football Federation has indicated that the selection process will remain ongoing, with additional players expected to be called up following scouting programmes across the country. Alexandersson has already been actively involved in the talent identification process.

Earlier in July, the Swedish coach attended the Khelo India Performance Assessment Camp in New Delhi, where he evaluated several young footballers who could potentially become part of the national set-up. He also visited the FIFA-AIFF Telangana Talent Academy in Hyderabad, continuing the search for players capable of strengthening the U17 national team.

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The approach suggests India will cast a wider net before finalising the preliminary squad for the qualifiers. For players currently attending the Bengaluru camp, the coming weeks will therefore provide an opportunity to make an early impression on the coaching staff while adapting to the tactical and physical demands of international football.

Another important part of the identification process will be the inaugural AIFF U17 Women’s Youth League 2026-27. The competition is scheduled to begin in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, on July 18 and is expected to provide a structured competitive platform for young female footballers from across the country. Alexandersson is set to attend the tournament later this month to monitor performances and identify potential additions to the national camp.

The introduction of a dedicated U17 women's youth competition could prove significant for India's long-term development. Regular competitive football at the domestic level is essential for bridging the gap between grassroots participation and international age-group football. It also gives national team coaches a broader pool of match-tested players to assess rather than relying primarily on short-term trials and camps.

The next few months will be critical for Alexandersson and his coaching staff. Beyond player selection, the camp will focus on developing tactical understanding, improving fitness levels and creating cohesion within a squad that is effectively beginning a new cycle.

Further evaluations will be conducted over the coming weeks before India's preliminary squad for the qualifiers is finalised. The Young Tigresses will then turn their attention towards Malaysia, where they will attempt to earn a place at the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027. After the previous generation broke new ground by reaching the Asian Cup quarter-finals, the target for the new batch is clear: maintain India's presence at the continental level and demonstrate that the recent progress in women's youth football can be sustained.

For Alexandersson and the 24 players currently in Bengaluru, the journey towards that objective has now officially begun.