India U17 Women to host Philippines in Goa for two September friendlies

India's U17 women's team will play two friendly matches against the Philippines in Goa on September 26 and September 29, 2026, as part of preparations for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers; exact venues are to be confirmed.

Coached by Joakim Alexandersson, the Young Tigresses are preparing for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which run from October 5 to October 11, 2026. The side made a first-ever appearance in the knockout stage at the previous edition in Suzhou, China, and will aim to qualify for consecutive tournaments for the first time. The Goa friendlies are scheduled after a pair of closed-door warm-up matches in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

India are already in Tashkent to face Uzbekistan in two friendlies on August 27 and August 30, 2026; the first match, played behind closed doors at the UFA National Football Centre, finished 0-0. The second Tashkent fixture is scheduled for August 30 at the same venue. Those matches form part of the immediate build-up ahead of the fixtures in Goa.

The games against the Philippines in Goa will be India’s final friendly outings before the team travels to Kuala Lumpur for the qualifying tournament. Tournament organisers have set the qualifying window from October 5 to October 11, 2026, and the Goa friendlies are intended as the last preparation matches on home soil.

The September meetings will be only the second encounter between India and the Philippines at this age level; the Philippines won 2-0 when the sides met in the AFC U16 Women’s Championship 2017 Qualifiers. Both September fixtures in Goa are billed simply as India vs Philippines on September 26 and September 29, 2026, with venue details to follow.

India open their AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers campaign on October 5 against Iraq, then face Syria on October 8, and conclude the group stage against hosts Malaysia on October 11, 2026.