Indian football team stuns Thailand to qualify for main event

The Indian football team beat hosts Thailand 2-1 in its fourth and final AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers Group B match at the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium on Saturday and qualified for next year’s main event.

Sangita Basfore (29’, 74’) scored a brace to hand India a memorable win which helped them qualify for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup after 22 years while Thailand scored through Chatchawan Rodhong (47’).

With both teams locked on nine points each and an identical goal difference of +22 heading into the encounter, the match was a virtual playoff with the winner topping the group and qualifying for the 2026 in Australia.

India last qualified directly for the main draw of the Women’s AFC Asian Cup football in 2003. They automatically received a spot at the last edition in 2022 as the tournament hosts but were forced to withdraw due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the squad.

Having beaten Mongolia 13-0, Timor-Leste 4-0 and Iraq 5-0 in their first three matches of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers campaign, the final match posed possibly the biggest challenge for the Crispin Chhetri-coached Indian team.

Thailand, playing in front of their home fans, also outrank world No. 70 India by 24 places.

The hosts dominated the early exchanges and even had the ball in the Indian goal two minutes in only for the linesman to rule out the goal for offside.

The Indian women’s football team, however, began to claw their way into the match after the 15-minute mark having survived Thailand’s early onslaught. A brilliant half volley by Sangita Basfore saw the away side edge ahead just before the half hour mark.

Pyari Xaxa could have doubled the advantage minutes later after a misunderstanding in the opposition box but the Thai goalkeeper Tiffany Sornpao made amends for mishandling the ball earlier with a decent save.

India led 1-0 at half-time thanks to Sangita’s screamer.

However, their lead only lasted two minutes after the restart as Thailand drew level with Chatchawan Rodhong’s attempted cross sneaking past Indian goalkeeper Panthoi Elangbam.

India were let off the hook minutes later with Karnjananthat Phomsri hitting the woodwork to the anguish of the home crowd.

With the home team throwing more bodies up front in attack, India had to defend deep. After multiple close calls, though, India found the all-important third goal with Sangita Basfore heading in a cushioned assist from Shilky Devi.

The headed goal eventually turned out to be the winner and sealed a historic night for the Indian women’s football team.

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