Top News

Indian women’s under-17 football team has created history. The Indian team has qualified for the quarter-finals of the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup for the first time with an impressive 4-0 win against Lebanon in their last Group B match on Friday (May 8).

The Indian team’s quarter-final berth was confirmed when Philippines and Chinese Taipei failed to win their last Group C matches by a margin of 12 or more goals. India, along with Thailand, secured their place in the last-8 as one of the two best teams at number three.

Preetika Burman scored two goals

India finished the group stage with three points and a goal difference of minus 1, much higher than Philippines’ minus 13 in Group C. In the match played at Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Center, Preetika Barman scored two goals for India in the 6th and 85th minutes, while Alva Devi Senjam scored in the 36th minute and Jaya in the 72nd minute, taking the team closer to the historic achievement.

India also recorded its first win and first goals in this tournament since 2005. This is also the team’s first qualification for the knockout stage of the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup.

Now FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualification at stake

This is India’s first Asian Cup knockout stage appearance in women’s football since the 2004 AFC Under-19 Championship. The team reached the quarter-finals in 2004. Now in the quarter-finals, India will face host China on Monday, which is on top in Group A with nine points.

A win in the quarter-finals will ensure India’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to be held in Morocco, which will be India’s first FIFA World Cup qualification on merit at any level, men’s or women’s tournament. India had earlier been defeated by Japan 3-0, while Australia had defeated 2-0.