Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 12: India have been drawn in a challenging Group B alongside four-time champions Japan, Australia and Lebanon for the AFC Under-17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 to be held in China.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from May 1 to 17 in Suzhou, with matches to be played at the Suzhou Sports Centre Stadium and the Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre.

India, who qualified for the continental tournament for the first time in 21 years after registering impressive wins over Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan, will open their campaign against Australia. They will then face former champions Japan before taking on debutants Lebanon in their final group fixture.

Japan, runners-up in the 2024 edition, earned automatic qualification and bring formidable pedigree to the competition. They were crowned FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup champions in 2014 and finished runners-up in 2010 and 2016.

Australia, who exited in the group stage in 2024, secured their place in the 2026 tournament with victories over Singapore and Northern Mariana Islands in the qualifiers.

Lebanon will be making their maiden appearance in the tournament after overcoming Kuwait and IR Iran in the qualification round.

In Group A, hosts China PR have been drawn alongside Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar. Group C features DPR Korea, Korea Republic, Philippines and Chinese Taipei.

The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed sides, will advance to the quarter-finals. The four semi-finalists will earn qualification to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026, where DPR Korea are the defending champions.

Draw:

Group A: China PR (H), Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar

Group B: Japan, Australia, India, Lebanon

Group C: DPR Korea, Korea Republic, Philippines, Chinese Taipei