India’s U17 women’s team land in Tashkent for Uzbekistan double-header
India’s Young Tigresses have arrived in Tashkent with a 23-player squad for friendlies against Uzbekistan on 27 and 30 August. Both matches will take place behind closed doors, providing the teams with an early test before their Asian Cup qualifying campaigns begin in October.
Head coach Joakim Alexandersson’s team reached the Uzbek capital on Tuesday after training in Bengaluru since 16 July, the All India Football Federation said.
The games will take place at the UFA National Football Centre and kick off at 10am Tashkent time or 10.30am in India. They will be India’s first international friendlies of the current qualifying preparations.
Read more: Uzbekistan women’s U20 team thrash Jordan to reach Asian Cup quarter-finals
Both teams face October qualifiers
India will travel to Kuala Lumpur for Group E of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. They face Iraq on 5 October, Syria three days later and hosts Malaysia on 11 October, with only the group winners advancing.
The Young Tigresses are chasing consecutive appearances at the continental finals after reaching the quarter-finals in 2026, which is India’s best performance in the competition.
Uzbekistan will host Group H of the qualifiers and face the Philippines and Bangladesh. The Tashkent double-header therefore provides both sides with competitive preparation six weeks before qualification begins.
The double-header comes after two Uzbek women’s teams broke new ground in continental competition. The senior side reached the 2026 Asian Cup quarter-finals, while the U20 team advanced to the Asian Cup last eight for the first time following a 4-0 victory over Jordan.
