Italy’s Pamela Conti To Take The Helm Of India U17 Women For AFC Asian Cup: Report

Former Italian midfielder Pamela Conti is all set to take over coaching responsibilities for the Indian U17 women’s team, ahead of the AFC Asian Cup, according to a report in The Times of India. She is the All

India Football Federation’s top choice to take over the role.

For the first time this season, three Indian women’s teams have reached the continental stage. With FIFA World Cup qualification at stake, the AIFF is determined to do ‘everything possible’ to help them reach the global stage.

Last week, Costa Rica’s Amelia Valverde, who led her nation to the FIFA Women’s World Cups in 2015 and 2023, was confirmed as the senior women’s head coach. Meanwhile, the federation is nearing a deal with Pamela Conti, Italy’s 2004 Player of the Year.

“We have agreed terms with Conti and should be able to sign the contract in the next couple of days. Women’s football is at a crucial stage and a good performance at the Asian level can spur the sport to greater heights in India,” a senior federation official told The Times of India.

According to the report, the federation has also contacted a Swedish coach who was an assistant to national teams in Sweden and Brazil.

But it is Conti who has emerged as the preferred choice, thanks in part to her work guiding Venezuela’s team to the FIFA U‑20 Women’s World Cup in 2024.

“Conti has great coaching experience, having been with the Atletico Madrid U17 team and then the Venezuela women’s national team, who are ranked in the 40s in FIFA rankings for the past five years,” another official told The Times of India. 

Venezuela’s women’s team is ranked 42nd in the latest FIFA women’s world rankings, just ahead of Costa Rica at 43rd.

The federation is all set to sign Conti on a contract running until the conclusion of the AFC Asian Cup 2026 in May.