India U17 women fall 2-4 to Philippines in Goa friendly ahead of AFC Qualifiers
Synopsis
India's U17 women conceded four second-half goals to lose 2-4 to the Philippines in a closed-door Goa friendly, with late strikes from Anushka Kumari and Joya offering little consolation. The result is a reality check ahead of the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers in Malaysia, which begin on 5 October.
Key Takeaways
India U17 women lost 2-4 to Philippines at the Vagator Football Ground, Anjuna, Goa on 26 September .
Anushka Kumari (85') and Joya (89') scored for India; the Philippines netted in the 47th, 50th, 68th , and 79th minutes.
The match was played behind closed doors as part of a pre-qualifier training camp.
India had earlier drawn 0-0 in both friendly matches against Uzbekistan in Tashkent in late August.
India face Philippines again on 29 September in Goa before heading to Malaysia for the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers from 5 to 11 October .
The India U17 women's football team suffered a 2-4 defeat against the Philippines in the first of two closed-door friendly matches at the Vagator Football Ground in Anjuna, Goa, on Saturday, 26 September 2025. The result comes as the Young Tigresses sharpen their preparations for the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers, scheduled from 5 to 11 October in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
How the Match Unfolded
The Philippines took firm control after the break, finding the net in the 47th, 50th, 68th, and 79th minutes to build a commanding lead. India's response came late, with Anushka Kumari pulling one back in the 85th minute and Joya adding a second in the 89th minute — but the deficit proved too steep to overcome.
Context: A Busy Pre-Qualifier Run
The friendly against the Philippines is the latest in a concentrated pre-tournament schedule. Last month, the Young Tigresses travelled to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where they held Uzbekistan to back-to-back 0-0 draws on 28 August and 30 August at the UFA National Football Centre. While the scorelines were flat, head coach Joakim Alexandersson used those outings to assess the new U17 batch and identify tactical building blocks for the qualification campaign.
What the Coaching Staff Is Looking For
According to reports, Alexandersson has indicated that results in these warm-up fixtures are secondary to shape and structure. The Philippines contest — played behind closed doors — offered a sterner test than the Uzbekistan friendlies, with the visitors' clinical second-half finishing exposing defensive vulnerabilities India will need to address before the qualifiers begin. Notably, this is the third preparatory fixture block in quick succession, underscoring the All India Football Federation's push to give the squad maximum competitive exposure.
What Comes Next
India and the Philippines are set to meet again on Tuesday, 29 September at the same venue in Goa, giving Alexandersson an immediate opportunity to recalibrate. The Young Tigresses then depart for Malaysia, where they will compete in the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers from 5 to 11 October. The qualifier campaign represents a critical step toward securing a berth at the continental championship and, by extension, India's long-term women's football ambitions.
Point of View
However friendly the context, is not the confidence-builder India's U17 women needed a week out from the AFC Qualifiers. The second-half collapse — four goals conceded between the 47th and 79th minutes — points to structural gaps in defensive shape that the Uzbekistan 0-0s did not expose. Head coach Alexandersson's process-over-results philosophy has merit at this stage of development, but the qualifier draw in Malaysia will not be as forgiving. The second Philippines fixture on 29 September is now less a formality and more a genuine diagnostic, and the response to this defeat will tell us more about this squad's readiness than any warm-up result so far.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the India U17 women vs Philippines friendly on 26 September?
India U17 women lost 2-4 to the Philippines in a closed-door friendly at the Vagator Football Ground in Anjuna, Goa, on 26 September. Anushka Kumari and Joya scored late for India, while the Philippines struck four times in the second half.
When do India U17 women play the Philippines again?
India and the Philippines are scheduled to meet again on Tuesday, 29 September, at the same Vagator Football Ground venue in Goa. This is the second of two planned friendly fixtures between the two sides.
What tournament are India U17 women preparing for?
The Young Tigresses are preparing for the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 5 to 11 October 2025. The qualifiers are a key step in India's path to the continental championship.
Who is the head coach of the India U17 women's football team?
The India U17 women's team is coached by Joakim Alexandersson, who has focused on building shape and tactical foundations rather than pure results during the current pre-qualifier friendly programme.
How did India perform in their earlier friendlies against Uzbekistan?
India drew 0-0 in both friendly matches against Uzbekistan at the UFA National Football Centre in Tashkent in late August — on 28 August and 30 August respectively. The goalless results were seen as useful preparation despite the lack of scoring.
