{"id":5630,"date":"2026-02-24T11:59:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T01:29:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/?p=5630"},"modified":"2026-08-14T22:47:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T13:17:18","slug":"we-are-manifesting-fifa-world-cup-qualification-blue-tigresses-hope-to-change-indian-football-forever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/ro\/we-are-manifesting-fifa-world-cup-qualification-blue-tigresses-hope-to-change-indian-football-forever\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018We are manifesting FIFA World Cup qualification!\u2019\u00a0Blue Tigresses hope to change Indian football forever"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3 id=\"the-world-s-most-populous-nation-is-ready-to-compete-in-what-is-arguably-the-most-significant-tournament-in-its-recent-history\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The world\u2019s most populous nation is ready to compete in what is arguably the most significant tournament in its recent history.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup 2026 comes in a period when Indian football has been going through turbulent times, as far as men\u2019s football is concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The senior men\u2019s national team has failed to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 for the first time since 2015, while the Indian Super League (ISL) season got underway only last week after a months&#8217; long delay after a dispute between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its long-term commercial partner over the Master Rights Agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Contrary to that, women\u2019s football in the nation has been on the rise, with India qualifying for the AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup for the first time since 2003 (with the team having to withdraw in the 2022 edition when they were hosts due to a COVID-19 outbreak).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s really massive for Indian football. Our qualification for the AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup is like a ray of hope for Indian football right now,\u201d said Crispin Chettri, the man who was in charge of India\u2019s qualification campaign, in an exclusive conversation with <em><strong>The Asian Game<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m really proud of my players. We are there just to help them, but it\u2019s they who did all the hard work on the pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: From Dreams to Goals: Indian coach Crispin Chettri on qualification and the future for women&amp;apos;s football\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/episode\/4UQrybvD4bL8bNB5wVsd64?utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"cultural-challenges-in-india\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cultural challenges in India<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the world\u2019s most ethnically diverse country \u2014 with an astonishing 2,500 distinct ethnic groups \u2014 there are several challenges that the national team has to overcome before competing against the finest.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Football is a sport where there are players from every region in the Indian national team, which means players from different cultures, faiths and linguistic backgrounds are assembled to fight together for a common cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think the hunger to play for the badge is much more important than the name at the back of your jersey and I have been able to make the players understand about it,\u201d remarked Crispin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And even then, there remain socio-economic challenges at the ground level. Before one becomes a celebrated athlete, support is hard to come by, and this normally makes many question their career choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also means that parents tend to look at alternative career options even when their child is talented in football, and this often causes hindrances in the system. Under these circumstances, Crispin points out how significant India\u2019s qualification in the upcoming tournament is, as it could really mark a positive change off the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"649\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Thailand-v-India-Reaction.jpg?resize=1024%2C649&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5626\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Thailand-v-India-Reaction-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C649&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Thailand-v-India-Reaction-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C190&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Thailand-v-India-Reaction-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C487&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Thailand-v-India-Reaction-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C973&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Thailand-v-India-Reaction-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1298&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe girls who play football in India are breaking barriers,&#8221; he explained. This qualification is very important, especially for the younger ones who want to become professional footballers. The situation is completely different from what it is in Europe. For some of them, being part of football gives them motivation to have a decent livelihood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Indian women\u2019s national team assistant coach added: \u201cWith this achievement, many parents will start thinking about allowing their daughters to go and play football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;It will also send a positive message to every state association to make no disparity between men\u2019s and women\u2019s football. This will help us go in the right direction when it comes to women\u2019s football.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"sometimes-you-win-sometimes-you-learn\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The journey so far has been far from easy, and Crispin credits the AFC Women\u2019s Champions League with playing a vital role in his understanding of the wider aspect of Asian football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having been the head coach of Odisha FC during the 2024\/25 AFC Women\u2019s Champions League, the 51-year-old helped his club successfully navigate the preliminary round, defeating Singapore\u2019s Lion City Sailors and Jordan\u2019s Etihad Club on the way to reaching the group stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, what followed was something to forget with Odisha losing all three group matches, including a 17-0 defeat at the hands of Urawa Red Diamonds. Despite this, Crispin sees things differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"660\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Urawa-Odisha-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C660&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5632\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Urawa-Odisha-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C660&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Urawa-Odisha-2.jpg?resize=300%2C194&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Urawa-Odisha-2.jpg?resize=768%2C495&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Urawa-Odisha-2.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI was lucky enough to be a part of Odisha FC, where I saw the real level of Asian football in the AFC Women\u2019s Champions League, playing against teams like Japan\u2019s Urawa,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat experience has helped me a lot in my understanding of the game. I knew we were going to lose because of the difference in standards, and they went on to score 17 goals against us. They celebrated the 17th goal like it was their first goal. That is the kind of attitude we need to instil in our players.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just eight months later, a remarkable turnaround saw Crispin guide the Indian national team to a 13-0 victory against Mongolia in their opening match of the qualification campaign for the AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seven different players were on the scoresheet for India, with Crispin\u2019s former apprentice at Odisha, Pyari Xaxa netting five goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m happy to have been able to impart that attitude (like the Urawa players) to some extent. We scored 13 goals because we were eager to score more even after going seven to eight goals up and that is exactly the kind of hunger that I want to see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"the-time-is-now\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The time is now!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Further wins against Timor-Leste and Iraq, 4-0 and 5-0 respectively, set up a tantalising winner-takes-all clash against hosts Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"633\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/India-v-Iraq-1st-Goal.jpg?resize=1024%2C633&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/India-v-Iraq-1st-Goal-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C633&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/India-v-Iraq-1st-Goal-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C185&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/India-v-Iraq-1st-Goal-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C475&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/India-v-Iraq-1st-Goal-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C949&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/India-v-Iraq-1st-Goal-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1266&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Similar to India, Thailand \u2014 who were led by former Japan women\u2019s national team head coach Futoshi Ikeda \u2014 hadn\u2019t conceded any goals up to that point, meaning they were brimming with confidence. On top of that, they had participated in the FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup twice in recent years (2015 and 2019) and had competed in every edition of the AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup since 1999.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These factors highlighted the steep task that India was up against, and on top of that, they were playing away from home in the Northern Thailand city of Chiang Mai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe were mentally prepared for that match from our camp in Bengaluru. By the time the Thailand match came around, our mindset was positive,\u201d Crispin shared.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI told my players to sing the Indian national anthem as loud as they could so that even the Thailand players and their fans would hear us. Sometimes, it\u2019s not about tactics but the motivation and adrenaline rush which makes all the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Blue Tigresses<\/em> started the game with real belief and took the lead in stunning fashion when Sangita Basfore opened the scoring from the edge of the box in the 29th minute, in a goal that has been watched by millions of Indian football fans on repeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Thailand 1-2 India | AFC Women&amp;apos;s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, Group B | Highlights\" width=\"1290\" height=\"726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IYB0EFxRbL8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thailand equalised early in the second half, but after weathering much of the storm, India hit them with a sucker punch courtesy of a training ground corner routine in the 74th minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe had been practicing that set piece to score a goal like that for six months and for almost eight to nine matches,&#8221; Crispin shared. &#8220;It shows that we have to be patient and we are moving in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the full-time whistle blew, Sangita, who proved to be the player for the big occasion scoring both of India\u2019s goals, burst into tears, realising the enormity of the achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The joyous support staff and the substitutes stormed onto the pitch to celebrate a night that will live long in the memory of Indian football lovers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSangita is like a Steven Gerrard or a Frank Lampard prototype player for us. She\u2019s a box-to-box player and is not scared to go forward and that\u2019s why she was able to score such crucial goals,\u201d expressed Crispin while speaking on the midfielder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/202507283465216-95a8c12a-b2cc-47dd-86ed-f9f4da5cd42b.webp?resize=1024%2C640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5617\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/202507283465216-95a8c12a-b2cc-47dd-86ed-f9f4da5cd42b-scaled.webp?resize=1024%2C640&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/202507283465216-95a8c12a-b2cc-47dd-86ed-f9f4da5cd42b-scaled.webp?resize=300%2C188&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/202507283465216-95a8c12a-b2cc-47dd-86ed-f9f4da5cd42b-scaled.webp?resize=768%2C480&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/202507283465216-95a8c12a-b2cc-47dd-86ed-f9f4da5cd42b-scaled.webp?resize=1536%2C960&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/202507283465216-95a8c12a-b2cc-47dd-86ed-f9f4da5cd42b-scaled.webp?resize=2048%2C1280&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"a-global-stage-for-indian-football\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">A global stage for Indian football<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Australia, Sangita will not be the only Indian player to keep an eye out for with a talented squad that includes the likes of Manisha Kalyan and Aveka Singh; the latter still uncapped at the senior level but plying her trade at N\u00e6stved HG in Denmark\u2019s second division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Manisha, on the other hand, is Indian football\u2019s poster girl, having been the first Indian to play in the UEFA Women\u2019s Champions League and recently scored her first goal for her new club Alianza Lima in Peru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crispin feels that the upcoming AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup in Australia is a great opportunity for many of this talented crop of Indian footballers to attract attention from abroad, which could in turn hugely benefit Indian football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup will be a huge platform for all the players, as scouts from major Asian and European countries will have an eye on them,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;If we can have maybe another six or seven players going outside India and playing in Europe, they can share their learning experience when they come back to the national team camp with our junior players as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And so, in just over a week, the Indian girls brace themselves for the biggest matches in their careers when their AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup 2026 adventure begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Thailand-v-India-Reaction-3.jpg?resize=1024%2C538&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Thailand-v-India-Reaction-3-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C538&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Thailand-v-India-Reaction-3-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C157&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Thailand-v-India-Reaction-3-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C403&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Thailand-v-India-Reaction-3-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C806&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Thailand-v-India-Reaction-3-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1075&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">India are placed in Group C, where they will take on Vietnam in their opener on 4 March in Perth, before facing a daunting test against Japan three days later at the same venue. They will then make the trip across to Sydney to face Chinese Taipei in their final group game on 10 March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf you want to become the best, you have to play against the best. For me, there is no failure in sports. It\u2019s all about learning and understanding the intensity and physicality that you need to grow as a team,\u201d said Crispin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Blue Tigresses<\/em> are the lowest-ranked team in the group, currently placed 67th in the FIFA Women\u2019s World Ranking but that doesn\u2019t deter them from their objective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crispin stressed not giving the rankings too much of an importance and has full confidence in what his girls are capable of on the big stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou can\u2019t judge a team by FIFA ranking. Bangladesh and Nepal are ranked much lower than us, but they\u2019ve still defeated us in the SAFF Women\u2019s Championship. So, it\u2019s about how mentally prepared you are,\u201d he pointed out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cObviously, Japan is on a whole different level. But on a given day, teams like Vietnam and Chinese Taipei are beatable. There\u2019s not much of a difference between them and us. If we can show the attitude we had in the Thailand match, with one win and a draw, there would be a realistic chance of us going through to the knockout round.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-x\"><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Touchdown Down Under! \ud83d\udc4b\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa<br><br>The <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/BlueTigresses?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#BlueTigresses<\/a> have arrived in Perth, where they will kick off their AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup campaign in 21 days \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf3<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/WAC2026?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#WAC2026<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/IndianFootball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#IndianFootball<\/a> \u26bd\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/v83SZB6xnZ\">pic.twitter.com\/v83SZB6xnZ<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Indian Football (@IndianFootball) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/IndianFootball\/status\/2021616524868649304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 11, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"dream-it-do-it\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dream It, Do It<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The format for the AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup 2026 means India has a genuine chance of achieving a historic qualification to the FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup 2027, which will be staged in Brazil next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to the top two teams from each group, two of the three best third-placed teams will also make it through to the quarter-finals. In the knockout stage, two of the four quarter-final losers will still have the chance to directly make it through to the FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup, with the AFC being allocated six confirmed slots for the global showpiece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe are manifesting World Cup qualification. Manifestation helps because then you work towards it. It could be the turning point for Indian football if the players can qualify for the FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup in Brazil,\u201d said an optimistic Crispin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a bid to boost India\u2019s hopes, AIFF has appointed Amelia Valverde as the coach of the team with the Costa Rican masterminding her native land\u2019s only two appearances in the FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup in 2015 and 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/HBlbqzHa8AAWXi8.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5634\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/HBlbqzHa8AAWXi8-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/HBlbqzHa8AAWXi8-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/HBlbqzHa8AAWXi8-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/HBlbqzHa8AAWXi8-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/HBlbqzHa8AAWXi8-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since Valverde\u2019s appointment last month, there has been a lot to be optimistic about as India have defeated Germany\u2019s Hertha Berlin 1-0 and drew 0-0 against Spartak Moscow of Russia in their preparatory camp in Turkiye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Blue Tigresses<\/em> then became the first team to arrive Down Under as they aim to acclimatise to the weather conditions and put the final touches to their preparations before the battle begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe most important thing for me is self-belief, which we lacked in the past. The message to the players is always to believe in themselves,\u201d said Crispin, who remains a crucial part of the coaching staff.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe sky is the limit. Look at the sky now and aim for the FIFA World Cup. There is a door now; we just have to find a key to open the door.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Listen to <strong>From Dreams to Goals<\/strong> as we discuss the big issues ahead of kick-off of the AFC Women&#8217;s Asian Cup<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Embed Player\" style=\"border:none\" src=\"https:\/\/play.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/40071590\/height\/128\/theme\/modern\/size\/standard\/thumbnail\/yes\/custom-color\/ff7828\/time-start\/00:00:00\/playlist-height\/200\/direction\/backward\/download\/yes\/font-color\/000000\" height=\"128\" width=\"100%\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"true\" mozallowfullscreen=\"true\" oallowfullscreen=\"true\" msallowfullscreen=\"true\"><\/iframe>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The world\u2019s most populous nation is ready to compete in what is arguably the most significant tournament in its recent history. The AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup 2026 comes in a period when Indian football has been going through turbulent times, as far as men\u2019s football is concerned. The senior men\u2019s national team has failed to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":5629,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_gspb_post_css":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[329,101,212],"class_list":["post-5630","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interviews","tag-afc-womens-asian-cup","tag-india","tag-womens-football"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>\u2018We are manifesting FIFA World Cup qualification!\u2019\u00a0Blue Tigresses hope to change Indian football forever - The Asian Game<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/ro\/we-are-manifesting-fifa-world-cup-qualification-blue-tigresses-hope-to-change-indian-football-forever\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"ro_RO\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2018We are manifesting FIFA World Cup qualification!\u2019\u00a0Blue Tigresses hope to change Indian football forever - The Asian Game\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The world\u2019s most populous nation is ready to compete in what is arguably the most significant tournament in its recent history. The AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup 2026 comes in a period when Indian football has been going through turbulent times, as far as men\u2019s football is concerned. The senior men\u2019s national team has failed to [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/ro\/we-are-manifesting-fifa-world-cup-qualification-blue-tigresses-hope-to-change-indian-football-forever\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Asian Game\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-24T01:29:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-14T13:17:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sangita-Basfore-5-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1463\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Shibajee Das\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@shibagoal\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Shibajee Das\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/we-are-manifesting-fifa-world-cup-qualification-blue-tigresses-hope-to-change-indian-football-forever\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/we-are-manifesting-fifa-world-cup-qualification-blue-tigresses-hope-to-change-indian-football-forever\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Shibajee Das\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b25503ed22976b0b174858680bd5f2e4\"},\"headline\":\"\u2018We are manifesting FIFA World Cup qualification!\u2019\u00a0Blue Tigresses hope to change Indian football forever\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T01:29:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-14T13:17:18+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/we-are-manifesting-fifa-world-cup-qualification-blue-tigresses-hope-to-change-indian-football-forever\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2140,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/we-are-manifesting-fifa-world-cup-qualification-blue-tigresses-hope-to-change-indian-football-forever\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/Sangita-Basfore-5-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1463&ssl=1\",\"keywords\":[\"AFC Women's Asian Cup\",\"India\",\"Women's Football\"],\"articleSection\":[\"INTERVIEW\"],\"inLanguage\":\"ro-RO\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/we-are-manifesting-fifa-world-cup-qualification-blue-tigresses-hope-to-change-indian-football-forever\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/we-are-manifesting-fifa-world-cup-qualification-blue-tigresses-hope-to-change-indian-football-forever\\\/\",\"name\":\"\u2018We are manifesting FIFA World Cup qualification!\u2019\u00a0Blue Tigresses hope to change Indian football forever - 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