Goa, May 24: Hosts India women's national football team will kick off their SAFF Women's Championship 2026 Group B campaign against the Maldives women's national football team at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday, May 25, with kickoff scheduled for 19:30 IST. The match will be streamed live on FanCode, while fans can attend the game free of charge.
This fixture marks the Blue Tigresses' first-ever match in Goa, adding to the anticipation as they aim to reclaim the regional title they last won in 2019.
India, currently ranked 69th in the FIFA rankings, enters the tournament as the highest-ranked side and clear favourites against the Maldives, who sit at 167th. The head-to-head record heavily favours the hosts, with India winning seven
of their eight previous meetings and drawing the other. They have netted 68 goals in those encounters while conceding just once.
'Expectations Will Be High'- Head Coach Optimistic After Third Place Finish In Kenya
Head coach Crispin Chettri will look for a strong start after India's third-place finish at the FIFA Series 2026 in Kenya. Despite their dominance in the region, Chettri acknowledged the rising competitiveness of the tournament.
"The SAFF Championship is getting more competitive each year. Being the hosts, expectations will be high. We have a balanced squad with experienced and young players, and the team is fit after the Indian Women's League," he said during the pre-tournament press conference.
He also underlined the broader objective: qualification for the next AFC Women's Asian Cup, with preparations beginning from this tournament.
India's Upcoming Talents Across Positions
India boasts strength across all departments. In defence, emerging talents like Astam Oraon and Nirmala Devi Phanjoubam are expected to anchor the backline. The midfield will rely on the creativity of Aveka Singh and the experience of Sangita Basfore to dictate play.
Up front, seasoned attackers such as Grace Dangmei, Pyari Xaxa, and Soumya Guguloth will lead the charge. However, star forward Manisha Kalyan is yet to join the squad due to club commitments, with the FIFA international window opening on June 1.
Dangmei highlighted the team's learnings from recent international exposure. "The experience in Australia during the AFC Women's Asian Cup helped us understand areas we need to improve. We hope to apply those lessons here and aim to go all the way," she said.
Maldives head coach Mohamed Sobah acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting India's pressing style. "We respect India's strength. We will aim to play smart and try to break their rhythm," he said.
Group B also features the Bangladesh women's national football team, while Group A includes Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals on June 3, with the final set to be played on June 6.
