India name 23-player squad for AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers in Malaysia
India’s U17 women’s team have been drawn into Group E and named a 23-player squad for the 2027 AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, which are set to take place from 5th October to 11th October 2026 in Malaysia.
The qualifying phase features 30 teams split into six groups of four and two groups of three, each contesting a single round-robin centralized league from 5th October to 11th October 2026; the final tournament will be played in China between March 31 and April 17, 2027, and four teams have already secured automatic places — defending champions DPR Korea, runners-up Japan, and semi-finalists Australia and China PR.
India reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup after advancing from their qualification group, where they finished ahead of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan; in the final tournament they were drawn with hosts Australia, Japan and Lebanon, beat Lebanon once to progress to the quarter-finals and then lost to China 3-0.
India are placed in Group E alongside Iraq, Malaysia and Syria, with all Group E matches to be played at the MP Selayang Stadium in Kuala Lumpur; coach Joakim Alexandersson announced his 23-player squad on 1st October and the side will reach Kuala Lumpur on October 2.
Joakim Alexandersson’s 23-player list includes goalkeepers Munni, Sanatombi Devi Irengbam and Sonam Ghosh. Defenders named are Abhista Basnett, Ambalika Chanu Khudongbam, Daina Devi Konthoujam, Joyshini Chanu Huidrom, Ritu Badaik and Taniya Devi Tonambam. Midfielders are Alva Devi Senjam, Bonifilia Shullai, Julan Nongmaithem, Monika Devi Wairokpam, Pritika Barman, Redima Devi Chingkhamayum, Silky Devi Sorokhaibam, Thandamoni Baskey and Yashica Haribabu, while forwards listed are Anushka Kumari, Deepika Kumari, Joya, Nidhi and Nira Chanu Longjam. The coaching staff named comprises head coach Joakim Alexandersson, assistant coaches Anthony Andrews and Nivetha Ramadoss, and goalkeeping coach Fysal K Bapu.
The full qualifying draw places Tajikistan, the Republic of Korea, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates in Group A. Group B pairs Indonesia with Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, with all Group B matches hosted by Singapore. Group C contains Chinese Taipei, Iran, Laos (H) and Cambodia, with Laos set to host that group, while Group D sees Vietnam host Kyrgyzstan, Northern Mariana Islands and Palestine.
Thailand will host Lebanon, Macau and Bhutan in Group F; Group G will have Myanmar hosting Hong Kong and Guam; Group H comprises the Philippines, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan with Uzbekistan hosting. All 30 teams across Groups A to H will play their group matches in centralized venues between 5th October and 11th October 2026.
Only the team that tops each qualifying group will progress to the 12-team AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup in China between March 31 and April 17, 2027, and the top four teams from that tournament will earn direct qualification for the 2027 U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
India open their Group E campaign against Iraq on 5th October at the MP Selayang Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.