Review of Key July 2025 Matches in AFC Qualification
July 2025 brought a series of highly compelling matches decisive for qualification to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026. For fans of women’s football in Asia it was a true festival of emotion, plot twists and sporting surprises. The greatest attention focused on Groups B and F, where the race for first place accelerated dramatically. At the centre of events stood India who, after an exceptionally tight group, secured a return to the major Asian finals after more than two decades away.
Match Analysis: India vs Iraq (2 July 2025)
At the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai, Thailand, India played one of their most important qualifying matches, facing Iraq. The team led by Thomas Dennerby produced football full of passion and efficiency.
Key moments:
- Sangita Basfore (14’) – A lightning goal put India in front, bringing comfort to their play and slightly disorganising the opponents’ defence.
- Manisha Kalyan (44’) – Just before half‑time she doubled the lead with clinical striker’s instinct. Heading into the break, India were dictating terms.
- Karthika Angamuthu (47’) – Right after the restart, a quick move and a goal that essentially set the match on its course. Iraq were pushed fully onto the back foot.
- Phanjoubam Nirmala Devi (64’) – The fourth goal reflected the team’s excellent overall play and ability to exploit mistakes.
- Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi (80’) – The fifth finished it off, sealing a commanding 5‑0 win.
Those five goals not only boosted team morale but also massively improved the goal difference. Thanks to the result India jumped into the Group B lead, sitting on maximum points and leaving battered Iraq far behind.
Historic Match: Thailand vs India (5 July 2025)
The final standings—and direct qualification—were decided in the showdown between India and the qualification hosts, Thailand. Emotions peaked: after three rounds both teams had 9 points and an identical goal difference (+22).
The match ended 2‑1 to India, giving them a historic return to the main tournament for the first time since 2003.
Key moments:
- 29’ — Sangita Basfore – Opened the scoring to put India ahead.
- 47’ — Chatchawan Rodhong (Thailand) – The hosts equalised just after the break, reigniting home hopes.
- 74’ — Sangita Basfore – Her second proved decisive. A truly big‑match finish.
When her shot hit the net, euphoria broke out on India’s bench. The team were just minutes away from a historic achievement. Thailand pushed to level again, but India’s defence made no mistakes.
Impact on the Group B Table
After the Thailand match India completed the group phase with four wins from four and a goal tally of 24:1, a +23 goal difference. Thailand, though equally ruthless in earlier outings, had to settle for second. It was top‑level competition, and the difference came from Sangita Basfore’s individual brilliance combined with India’s consistent team play.
Final Group B Table (top positions):
| Team | Matches | Points | Goals | GD |
| India | 4 | 12 | 24:1 | +23 |
| Thailand | 4 | 9 | 23:2 | +21 |
Victory over Thailand opened the door for India to the finals in Australia. It was their first such qualification in more than 20 years!
Standout Matches in Other Groups (e.g., Group F – Uzbekistan vs Nepal)
Group F: A Giant Meets Nepal’s Passion
Group F was no less dramatic. Uzbekistan and Nepal finished qualifying level—each with 7 points and 20 goals scored, 3 conceded. Their head‑to‑head ended 3‑3, so Uzbekistan’s edge came via a 4‑2 penalty shoot‑out!
Uzbekistan’s standouts, Kudratova and Karachik, shone especially in the 10‑0 win over Sri Lanka, scoring six goals between them. Nepal dismantled Laos 9‑0, underlining that there was no room for half measures in this group.
Group & Team Round‑Up
Elsewhere in qualifying there was no shortage of notable outcomes:
- Group C: Bangladesh marched to complete dominance, winning every match and posting a +15 goal differential.
- Group D: Chinese Taipei celebrated qualification with 9 points and a +12 margin, pulling well clear of Pakistan.
All told, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 finals in Australia are shaping up to be a true festival of footballing skill—featuring both established national teams and fresh energy from ambitious, fast‑developing federations.
What’s Next?
India’s qualification is more than a good run of results. It’s a return to Asia’s football map, built on the work of the entire staff and a new generation of talented players. Such a spectacular qualification after 22 years provides a huge boost not only to the squad but to fans across the country. In Australia they could be a dark horse, and their attack—Basfore, Kalyan, and Anju Tamang among others—is one of the most exciting to watch in the region.
The final tournament kicks off 4 March 2026. A celebration of women’s football with a distinctly Asian flavour awaits!
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