Bhubaneswar: The India women’s side are ramping up serious preparation ahead of the Asian Cup in Australia, and the plan is bold. Under coach Crispin Chettri, the roadmap includes monthly camps starting October and a trip to Europe in November — all designed to sharpen the team for the big tournament.
From October onwards, Chettri has outlined: “We’ll be hosting a camp maybe for 15 days every month … maybe in November we might go to Europe and in January … maybe to some place where we can have similar kind of conditions for friendly matches.”
The scheduling of the domestic league has been adjusted accordingly. The Indian Women’s League (IWL) 2025-26 season is to be managed so it doesn’t clash with the national team’s preparation — a sign that the federation is taking the build-up seriously.
The goals are clear: exposure to strong opposition, more consistent playing time, and better preparation. According to federation documents, the team will undergo 83 days of national camps, play 12 international friendlies, and each player is expected to feature in upwards of 30 matches (club + country) between August and February.
It’s not just about training — the draw is tough. India have been placed in Group C of the Asian Cup alongside powerhouses like Japan women’s national football team, Vietnam women’s national football team and Chinese Taipei women’s national football team. That means they’ll need to be ready from day one.
The European tour in November is a key feature because it offers a different style of football, stronger opponents, and an environment away from home comforts — all of which help sharpen competitive edge. The ’away from home’ factor is vital when you’re aiming to compete at the highest level.
Importantly, by aligning the IWL and national team calendar, the concerns of club vs country fatigue are being addressed up front. Chettri noted: “We’ve already planned that… we had meetings with the IWL clubs… accordingly part of the IWL will happen after the Asian Cup.”
In sum: the road to the Asian Cup for India’s women is being paved with planning, exposure, and ambition. The Europe tour is the visible part of a deeper strategy — and if execution follows, India may well arrive in Australia better prepared than ever.
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