Pathum Thani, April 1 -- The Indian U20 women's national team are set to kick off their AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup Thailand 2026 campaign against Japan on Thursday, April 2, as the Young Tigresses end their 20-year wait to play in the tournament.

The match will kick off at 18:30 IST at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani, and will be streamed live on FanCode, according to the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

For India, this is more than just an opening fixture. It is the beginning of a journey that has been carefully constructed over months, across continents, and with a clear identity in mind.

After qualifying for the tournament for the first time in two decades, India are approaching the Asian Cup as a team intent on competing....