AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026: Indian Women’s Team Face Stern Test Against Japan After 0-2 Loss To Australia

India will meet Japan in their second Group B match at the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup 2026 on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Suzhou. Kick-off is at 17:00 IST at Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre Pitch 4, with streaming on the AFC Asian Cup YouTube channel.

The Young Tigresses lost 0-2 to Australia in their opener. That result makes goal difference vital, especially after Japan beat Lebanon 13-0 in their first game. In Group C, DPR Korea defeated Chinese Taipei 10-0. Australia plays Lebanon earlier on Tuesday in the other Group B match.

Japan are among the most successful sides in this age group. They have reached seven finals in nine U17 Women's Asian Cups and won four titles. The Little Nadeshiko were also FIFA U17 Women's World Cup champions in 2014,

underlining their quality at this level.

Pamela Conti Aim For Flawless Performance

India head coach Pamela Conti said her team must aim for a flawless effort. "We've just finished training, and we are quite excited because we are going to play against one of the strongest teams in the world," she told the-aiff.com after Monday's official training session.

"Me, as a coach, and the players as well, believe that we need to play a perfect match if we want to win. But beyond that, just being there, experiencing it, and enjoying the game is also important. I will definitely enjoy it," Conti said.

How Will Blue Trigresses Prepare For Upcoming Challenge?

India has trained for over three months, with exposure trips to Myanmar and Russia. Tests against Russia and Australia gave a sense of the physical level. The focus now is on handling Japan's speed and sharp passing while refusing to drop too deep and passive.

Conti said India cannot sit back. "The message to the players has been clear throughout training. We cannot just defend. If we let them have the ball without pressure, it will be very easy for them to find spaces and create one-on-one situations," she explained.

"We need to stay strong. We know their strengths. They will try to push us back as much as possible. But we need to stay higher up the pitch so that we can show that we are there, and not make it easy for them," she added.

Beyond this match, Conti stressed a steady mindset. "Our mentality should never change. Whether you play against the best team or the lowest-ranked team, it's always about three points. It's important to build a winning mentality, and you develop that by playing these kinds of demanding matches," she said.

"It's also important for the players to be able to say in the future, 'I played against Japan back then. ' That experience matters," the Italian coach said, stressing the long-term value of facing such opponents at youth level.

Linda Eyes Clinical Display Against Japan

Right-back Divyani Linda said the group is keen for the challenge. "The feeling is good. We are excited because it's our first time playing against a team like Japan. They are a tough side, but we believe we can do well too," said the 17-year-old.

Linda has scored four goals and made four assists in her youth international career for India. She said the defence had held firm for long spells against Australia, but errors had proved costly, an area the team is trying to fix fast before facing Japan.

"We need to improve from the last game and avoid the mistakes we made. Our team is good, everyone has quality. Maybe we are not as physically strong, but we play well with our minds and our understanding of the game," she said.

"In the last few games (against Australia and Russia), we've conceded goals from our errors, so we need to avoid those and perform better," Linda added. She said India must match Japan's quick combinations with focus, simple passing and calm decision-making under pressure.