India vs Japan: AFC Women’s Asian Cup Update

By Ananya Rao / 08.03.2026

Japan has historically dominated matches against India in women’s football. In their previous encounters, Japan has won four out of five matches against India, with the latter’s only victory occurring in 1986 at the Tien Soeharto Women’s Soccer Cup. Their last meeting was during the Olympic Qualifiers in 2023, where Japan decisively defeated India 7-0. Currently, Japan is ranked 8th in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, while India sits at 67th.

Recent Developments

As the AFC Women’s Asian Cup progresses, India faced a setback in their opening match, losing 2-1 to Vietnam. This loss places India in a challenging position within Group C, where they must secure a positive result against Japan to maintain their chances of advancing in the tournament. In contrast, Japan started their campaign on a strong note, winning their opening match against Chinese Taipei 2-0.

Following the loss to Vietnam, India’s coach Sangita Basfore stated, “We made a big effort against Vietnam, we did everything we could on the field, but now we have analysed the game and the mistakes made in it.” She emphasized the need for improvement in their next match against Japan.

Amelia Valverde, another key figure in the Indian camp, acknowledged Japan’s style of play, saying, “We know Japan are a team that really like to keep possession, with a lot of dynamism. They like to dominate the game, but we have to prepare our own game.” This reflects the team’s strategy to adapt and counter Japan’s strengths.

Japan’s Perspective

On the other side, Japan’s coach Nils Nielsen expressed confidence in his team’s ability to create scoring opportunities against India. He remarked, “I’m confident we can create chances against India. They are a strong team with great spirit, and although they were unlucky in their last game, we believe we can put them under pressure.” This statement highlights Japan’s respect for India despite their previous success.

Looking Ahead

As the match approaches, observers note that it is crucial for India to improve and learn from their previous match. Basfore reiterated, “The plan is to improve in the next game and take those learnings forward into the next match against Japan.” The outcome of this match will significantly impact India’s chances of progressing in the tournament, making it a pivotal encounter in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.