Chiang Mai, June 23 -- India's road to the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 and the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 will officially begin on Monday when the Blue Tigresses take on Mongolia in the opening match of Group B of the Qualifiers at the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium, according to the official website of AIFF.

India, twice runners-up of the erstwhile Asian Women's Championship in the 1980s, are aiming to make it to the continent's top women's competition for the 10th time and the first via the qualifiers' route. After Mongolia, India will take on Timor Leste on June 29, Iraq on July 2, and hosts Thailand on July 5 in Chiang Mai. Only the group winners will qualify for the 12-team AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026, which will s...