AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 draw: India drawn alongside China, Chinese Taipei, Iran

India,
ranked
57th
in
the
FIFA
charts,
are
the
third-highest
ranked
side
in
the
group
behind
China
(17th)
and
Chinese
Taipei
(40th)
and
ahead
of
Iran
(72nd).

The
draw
was
held
at
the
Asian
Football
Confederations
(AFC)
headquarters
in
the
Malaysian
capital.
India
is
scheduled
to
host
the
tournament
from
January
20
to
February
6
at
venues
in
Mumbai,
Navi
Mumbai,
and
Pune.

“It
is
an
exciting
group.
We
respect
all
our
opponents
as
all
of
them
are
strong
teams
who
have
qualified
for
the
AFC
Asian
Cup
India
2022.
But
we
are
ready
to
play
any
team,”
India’s
head
coach
Thomas
Dennerby
said
after
the
draw.

“I
don’t
consider
any
particular
match
as
a
key
one.
All
three
matches
are
key
matches
for
us
in
the
group
stage.
We
need
to
do
our
job
over
90
minutes
every
time
we
enter
the
field,”
the
coach
maintained.

The
excitement
around
Asia’s
marquee
women’s
national
team
competition
is
starting
to
build
following
the
completion
of
the
qualifiers
where
Chinese
Taipei,
Indonesia,
the
Islamic
Republic
of
Iran,
Korea
Republic,
Myanmar,
the
Philippines,
Thailand
and
Vietnam
secured
their
spots
to
the
Finals.

They
will
join
the
top
three
teams
from
the
2018
showpiece
Japan,
Australia
and
China
alongside
host
India
when
the
tournament
takes
place
from
January
20
to
February
6.

“The
AFC
Women’s
Asian
Cup
is
the
premier
flagship
tournament
for
women’s
football
in
our
continent,
and
I’m
proud
and
happy
that
India
is
going
to
be
the
host
for
the
2022
edition,”
said
All
India
Football
Federation
(AIFF)
president
Praful
Patel.

“I
thank
the
AFC,
AIFF
and
the
Local
Organising
Committee
(LOC)
for
jointly
working
together
to
bring
a
fantastic
tournament
not
only
for
the
fans
in
India,
but
also
for
all
of
the
Asian
continent.”

“The
AFC
had
recently
come
and
inspected
all
the
facilities
in
Mumbai,
Navi
Mumbai,
and
Pune.
We
are
looking
forward
to
welcome
all
the
12
teams
to
our
beautiful
country,
and
I
am
confident
they
will
be
satisfied
with
the
facilities,
and
hospitality.”

The
Indian
team
is
currently
camping
in
Jamshedpur
with
logistical
and
infrastructural
aid
from
the
government
of
Jharkhand
since
September.

The
team
had
also
gone
on
an
exposure
tour
to
UAE,
Bahrain
and
Sweden,
where
they
played
against
tnternational
teams
like
UAE,
Tunisia,
Bahrain
and
Chinese
Taipei.

The
side
has
also
played
two
friendlies
against
Swedish
Dammalsvenskan
(Tier
1)
clubs
Hammarby
IF
and
Djurgarden
IF.

Asian
Football
Confederation
(AFC)
general
secretary
Dato
Windsor
John
said:
“The
AFC
Women’s
Asian
Cup
India
2022
promises
to
be
another
great
celebration
throughout
the
continent.

“Together
with
the
All
India
Football
Federation
and
the
Local
Organising
Committee,
we
are
confident
of
staging
a
remarkable
tournament
that
will
leave
a
legacy
for
many
years
to
come.
I
must
congratulate
the
teams
who
have
qualified
and
will
line
up
along
with
the
top
three
teams
from
the
last
edition
and
our
hosts
India.”

Dennerby’s
team
will
feel
confident
especially
on
home
turf
and
having
recently
beaten
Chinese
Taipei
in
an
international
friendly.
India
have
played
six
friendlies
in
October
and
have
impressed
by
winning
three
and
losing
three
matches.

India
will
face
Iran
in
the
opening
match
of
the
tournament
on
January
20.
The
teams
were
separated
into
four
pots
based
on
their
ranking
from
the
previous
edition.

At
the
end
of
the
draw,
12
teams
were
divided
into
three
groups
of
four
teams
with
host
India
placed
in
Pot
1
alongside
reigning
champions
Japan
and
Australia,
while
Pot
2
featured
China
PR,
Thailand
and
Korea
Republic.

India’s
fixtures
in
the
group
stage
are
as
follows:

January
20,
2022:
India
vs
Iran
(7.30
pm
IST
–
DY
Patil
Stadium)

January
23,
2022:
Chinese
Taipei
vs
India
(7.30
pm
IST
–
DY
Patil
Stadium)

January
26,
2022:
India
vs
China
(7.30
pm
IST
–
Mumbai
Football
Arena)

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