Shillong: The Indian senior women’s football team will open its Tri-Nation International Friendly campaign against Iran on Tuesday, October 21, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong. The match kicks off at 6 p.m. and will be streamed live on plus.fifa.com.
For head coach Crispin Chettri, the fixture marks the start of India’s preparations for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, providing an opportunity to experiment with new players and tactical combinations.
“After our Asian Cup qualification, this will be our first match in nearly four months,” Chettri said. “We’ll try to play good football and give opportunities to several new players who have come through the Senior Nationals to build a stronger pool for the future.”
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The encounter also marks the Blue Tigresses’ return to Shillong after nine years, their last appearance in the city being during the 2016 South Asian Games. The Tri-Nation series will continue with Iran facing Nepal on October 24, followed by India taking on Nepal on October 27.
Chettri lauded the facilities in Meghalaya’s capital, saying, “Shillong has been very welcoming. The facilities are excellent, and it’s great to play here after such a long time. We’ll give our best tomorrow.”
Ranked 63rd in the world, India will face a resilient Iranian side ranked 70th, known for its physical brand of football. The two teams last met in the 2022 Asian Cup, which ended in a goalless draw, while India had edged Iran 1–0 in the 2019 Gold Cup.
“Iran is a tricky team with strong, physical players. It’ll be a good test for us in terms of physicality and composure,” Chettri noted, adding that domestic tournaments like the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and Khelo India ASMITA Leagues have been instrumental in nurturing fresh talent.
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Senior forward Grace Dangmei stressed the importance of unity across generations. “The U17 and U20 teams have shown great progress. As seniors, we must perform and set examples. The juniors bring new energy, and that balance helps the team grow,” she said.
Iran head coach Marziyeh Jafaribaravati thanked India for its hospitality and said her team was ready despite a hectic schedule. “India is a very good team, and we expect a strong, competitive game. All three teams in this tournament are good, and we will give our best to win,” she said.
With high anticipation surrounding their return to Shillong, the Blue Tigresses will look to begin their Tri-Nation campaign with a confident performance against a formidable Iranian side.
