Midfielder Sangita Basfore scored a brace to lead India to a memorable 2-1 victory over hosts Thailand, sealing their place in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 for the first time through the qualifiers route.
The result saw India top Group B with a perfect 12 points, while former champions Thailand were left stunned and eliminated from contention.
This marks India’s first qualification for the continental showpiece since 2003, and a historic moment as they make it via the qualification stage for the first time.
In a high-stakes encounter, both sides entered the tie with identical points and goal difference, making victory essential for progress. The game began cautiously, with few chances and much of the action confined to midfield battles.
Though Thailand dominated possession, India’s defence stood tall. The breakthrough came in the 29th minute, when a swift counterattack led by Anju Tamang saw her cut the ball back for Basfore, who fired a powerful strike from outside the box past Thai goalkeeper Tiffany Sornpao.
Galvanised by the setback, Thailand pressed harder but India remained compact, going into half-time with a slender 1-0 lead.
The home side struck back immediately after the restart in the 47th minute, when Chatchawan Rodthong’s long-range effort took an awkward bounce and deceived Indian goalkeeper Elangbam Panthoi to level the scores.
Despite the setback, the Indian team stayed focused and disciplined. Their persistence was rewarded in the 74th minute when defender Nirmala Devi delivered a corner that was nodded on by Shilky Devi, allowing Sangita Basfore to head home her second goal of the evening.
Thailand failed to mount a late comeback as India held firm to script one of their biggest victories in recent history.
With this result, India booked their ticket to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 in Australia, capping off a perfect qualifying campaign and igniting fresh hope for the future of women’s football in the country.
