What if we told you that India could still qualify for the next FIFA World Cup? Yes, that’s right, because we are telling you about the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in Brazil, and in this blog, we will explain the entire qualification process for the Blue Tigresses. 

India’s Road to FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027

How India can qualify for FIFA Women's World Cup?

The tenth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup will see 32 teams from six different confederations. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), of which India is a part, is allocated six direct places and two inter-confederation play-off places. For teams from Asia, the AFC Asian Cup is considered the qualifying tournament. For the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, the AFC Asian Cup 2026, which will be held in Australia, will be the qualifying tournament. The first thing India has to do is qualify for this tournament. The qualifying matches of the AFC Asia Cup will be played in 2025. If India wins the qualifying matches, they will get a ticket to the AFC Asian Cup 2026, alongside 10 other qualified teams and the host Australia.

In the AFC Asian Cup, 12 participating teams are drawn into three groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group in the group stage and the two best third-place teams enter the quarterfinal stage. The four winners of the quarterfinals will get a ticket to the FIFA World Cup, while the four losing teams enter the play-off round. Two winners from the play-off round are qualified for the FIFA World Cup. The losers of the play-off round are still in the race for a berth at the FIFA World Cup as they are qualified to represent AFC at the inter-confederation play-off round. 

The inter-confederation play-off round is a tournament that is competed in by 10 teams from six different confederations, with three places up for grabs. These 10 teams are drawn into three groups: two groups of three teams and one group of four teams. Groups are made considering the FIFA rankings of the teams as well as making sure that no group has two teams from the same confederation. The winners of each group are qualified for the FIFA World Cup.

What are India's chances of qualifying for the FIFA Women's World Cup?

Now let’s talk about India’s chances of making it to the biggest stage. India’s golden chance of playing in the FIFA Women’s World Cup was in 2023. As India was the host of the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup, the Blue Tigresses were given a direct slot in the tournament. India was drawn against China, Chinese Taipei, and Iran in the group stage. However, at the last moment, some players of the Indian squad tested positive for COVID-19, and the team was left with only 13 players. Hence, the team could not play any matches and had to withdraw from the tournament. 

At the time of writing this article, India’s FIFA ranking was 66. However, the Blue Tigresses’ highest ever ranking is 49, which they achieved almost a decade ago on 13 December 2013. Right now, India is the thirteenth-best team in Asia according to the FIFA rankings, which means the team has an outside chance of making it through to the 2027 edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Interestingly, India's football past is more inspiring than the present. The team was runner-up in the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 1979 and 1983. If the Blue Tigresses could perform anywhere closer to their history, they would be able to make it through to Brazil.

Nevertheless, we still have almost a year of preparation left, and it will not be an exaggeration if we say that we can do it. Many Indian female footballers are currently playing or have played for European clubs in the past, like Bala Devi (Rangers), Manisha Kalyan (playing in the UEFA Women's Champions League for Apollon Ladies F.C.), and Aditi Chauhan (who has played for Icelandic club Hamar Hveragerdi and West Ham Ladies in the past). With several accomplished players and bright young prospects, the Indian women's football team can make it through to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Overcoming the Bias 

We often get biassed when imagining seeing the Indian football team at the FIFA World Cup. Still, we forget "FIFA World Cup toh FIFA World Cup Huwe hain Chahe Bete Khelen ya Betiyan,"  which means a FIFA World Cup is a FIFA World Cup whether the sons of the nation play in it or the daughters. The most important thing and the dream of many Indian football fans is to hear the national anthem on the biggest stage, and let us tell you that our women’s national football team is far closer to realising this dream than our men’s team. So let’s support the Blue Tigresses and help them make it through to the biggest football stage.