Young Tigresses set for stern test against Japan in U20 Asian Cup opener PATHUM THANI, THAILAND: The moment they have spent months preparing for has finally arrived. The Indian U20 women’s national team are set to kick off their AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Thailand 2026 campaign against Japan on Wednesday, April 2, as the Young Tigresses end their 20-year wait to play in the tournament. The match will kick off at 18:30 IST at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani, and will be streamed live on FanCode. For India, this is more than just an opening fixture. It is the beginning of a journey that has been carefully constructed over months, across continents, and with a clear identity in mind. After qualifying for the tournament for the first time in two decades, India are approaching the Asian Cup as a team intent on competing. Head coach Joakim Alexandersson emphasised both realism and ambition ahead of the opener. “We are very much aware that we are new to this scene right now with the India team. We know we are facing tough opponents and we have respect for them,” said the Swede. “But also, we have a mindset that we want to make it through this group and qualify for the World Cup. That would be fantastic for the whole country,” he added. India’s preparation for the tournament has been extensive and methodical. From friendly matches in Kazakhstan to a month-long training camp in Sweden, the focus has been on developing a squad capable of handling the demands of elite competition. “We have been together continuously for three months,” Alexandersson said. “Before that, we had friendly games in Kazakhstan. We have been to Sweden for a one-month camp, and we invited Uzbekistan to India as well. So the preparation has been good. I think we are ready for this tournament in a good way.#japan #india #thailand #afc_u20_women_s_asian_cup #joakim_alexandersson
