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U20 Asian Cup Campaign: After two decades, the Indian U20 women’s national team are finally back on the continental stage, as they prepare to face Japan in their opening match of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Thailand 2026 on Wednesday at the Thammasat Stadium here.

For India, the fixture is far more than just an opener; it marks the start of a carefully planned journey, shaped over months of preparation across continents and focused on forging a clear team identity.

Head coach Joakim Alexandersson highlighted the balance between ambition and realism as India step onto the big stage. “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," he said.