Football
AFC Women's Asian Cup: India lost 1-2 to Vietnam in opener-Highlights
Catch all the highlights from the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia.
India Women to begin its campaign at AFC Asian Cup 2026. (Photo Credits: AIFF)
The Indian women's team began its campaign at the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup with the opening fixture against Vietnam in Perth, Australia, on Wednesday.
But it wasn't a good start for the team as they conceded an injury-time winner from Vietnam, losing the match 1-2. Sanfida Nongrum scored the only goal for India.
India qualified for the AFC Women's Asian Cup after 23 years, placed in Group C alongside former world champion Japan, Vietnam and Chinese Taipei.
Asian Cup is also a qualifier for the next year's FIFA Women's World Cup, with 6 direct available quotas and the two spots for Inter-Continental Play-offs.
As it happened:
Live Updates
- 4 March 2026 5:04 PM IST
30' Vietnam breaks the deadlock with the opening goal
India 0-1 Vietnam
A poor defensive play from India let the Vietnamese forward win a loose ball just outside the box, which allowed them to build a counter.
Then, Thị Vạn Sự Ngan converted it into a goal with a beautiful curling shot on the far side.
- 4 March 2026 4:59 PM IST
25' Vietnam is putting numbers in front, forcing Indian midfield to make fouls
India 0-0 Vietnam
India is getting outnumbered in midfield due to the lack of speed in switching from attack to defence.
- 4 March 2026 4:46 PM IST
14' India survives as Vietnam finds the crossbar
India 0-0 Vietnam
A big mispass from Martina to Vietnam's Thị Bích Thùy, who had a lot of time to take a direct shot, which she did, but only found the crossbar, and India took a sigh of relief.
- 4 March 2026 4:38 PM IST
5' Vietnam makes an aggressive start to the game
India 0-0 Vietnam
Vietnam keeps most of the possession in the game and tries to make quick runs from the wings, troubling both of India's full-backs.
- 4 March 2026 4:31 PM IST
Vietnam KICKS OFF the game!
Vietnam kicks off the match attacking from left to right in their red kits! India to chase the bowl, attacking from right to left in their blue kits.
- 4 March 2026 4:15 PM IST
India Vs Vietnam! Match-up to Watch out for
India will be facing Vietnam for the first time in three years, since the Paris Olympics Qualifiers in 2023, where the Indian team faced a heavy 1-3 defeat to the Vietnamese side.
Vietnamese star Huynh Nhu, who scored in that match, remains the sole goalscorer from that game starting today. With 69 international goals to her name, she's the one to watch.
On India's side, Grace Dangmei leads the current squad with 30 goals.
- 4 March 2026 4:00 PM IST
Here is the Indian starting XI in this opening fixture
Sweety Devi Ngangbam will lead the Indian side in the opening game of the Asian Cup, while Panthoi Chanu will be taking the goalkeeping duty.
Pyari Xaxa will lead the Indian forward line alongside the experienced Manisha Kalyan, Dangmei Grace and Soumya Guguloth.
- 4 March 2026 3:50 PM IST
Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup
India is set to begin its campaign at the Asian Cup with the opening group fixture against Vietnam. The match is scheduled at 4:30 PM IST
