India Vs Iraq Highlights, AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers 2025: Blue Tigresses Knock Out IRQ With 5-0 Win

Hello! We're back with another live blog, this time it's India vs Iraq in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers 2025. Stay tuned for live updates.

When is the India vs Iraq AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifier?

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifier between India and Iraq will kick off at 2:30pm IST on Wednesday, July 2, at the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium.

Where to watch the India vs Iraq AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifier LIVE?

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifier between India and Iraq will be streamed live on Changsuek YouTube Channel and Thai Women’s Football Facebook Page.

India will aim to continue their perfect run in Group B of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers when they face Iraq on Wednesday in Chiang Mai. With six points and a +17 goal difference, the Blue Tigresses top the group ahead of Thailand.

Coach Crispin Chhetri stressed the focus is on securing three points, not goal difference, as Iraq, ranked 103 places below India, must win to stay in contention. Chhetri may rotate his squad but will miss Soumya Guguloth, ruled out with a nasal fracture.

We're underway in Chiang Mai. Iraq get us going, with India attacking from right to left.

Early action at both ends. Iraq push forward quickly but India clear it away. Anju Tamang chases a long ball but can’t get there. Moments later, Iraq’s captain concedes a free-kick just outside the box.

India have started on the front foot, dominating the left flank with a flurry of crosses that kept Iraq’s defence busy. They earn two corners from the pressure, but can’t capitalise. The score stays level.

India strike first! Captain Sanju delivers a dangerous corner, and the Iraqi keeper fumbles under pressure. The ball falls kindly to Sangita Basfore, who gets the slightest of touches before it deflects off the keeper and rolls into the net. The Blue Tigresses take a deserved lead.

There’s real intent from the Blue Tigresses as they look to double their lead. Rimpa Haldar tries her luck from the edge of the box with a curling effort, but it flies high over the bar. The pressure is building on Iraq.

India pile on the pressure as Rimpa glides past her marker and whips in a testing ball. The Iraqi keeper fumbles, Anju lashes at the rebound, but it’s kept out. Alzebari picks up a shoulder knock in the chaos.

The game’s getting heated now, Iraq trying to break through with some clever footwork. India, though, stay solid at the back.

With Iraq’s defence holding firm, Nirmala tries to break the deadlock with a long-range effort. But the shot lacks direction and sails wide of the far post. India continue to search for openings.

India create a couple of promising openings down the right, but the finishing lets them down. Nirmala takes the first swing and sends it wide, followed by Manisha, who also fails to hit the target. Both chances end in goal-kicks, and Iraq breathe a sigh of relief.

Manisha is pushing hard for a goal, but a heavy first touch kills the move. The Greece-based winger is showing great intent, and if the chances keep coming, a finish might not be far away.

That’s the whistle in Chiang Mai, and India go into the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead. Sangita Basfore opened the scoring in the 14th minute after Iraq’s keeper spilled a corner from Sanju, allowing the ball to deflect in off her.

Just before halftime, Manisha Kalyan doubled the lead with a low shot from the edge of the box, a routine save gone horribly wrong as the keeper let it slip through her hands. A dominant first half from the Blue Tigresses.

India begin the second half with a double substitution as Ratanbala Devi and Grace Dangmei replace Anju Tamang and Sangita Basfore.

Iraq respond with three changes of their own as they look to turn things around.

What a strike from Karthika Angamuthu. Spotting space from distance, she takes a quick glance and unleashes a looping shot that soars over the Iraqi keeper and into the net.

A stunning goal to make it 3-0 for India just after the restart!

Nirmala Devi pulls the trigger from distance and absolutely hammers it home. The Iraq keeper gives it her all with a flying leap, but there’s no catching that rocket. India are flying now, it’s 4-0 and the Blue Tigresses are roaring.

She had one go in the first half that flew wide, but this time, Nirmala Devi absolutely nails it. From just outside the box, she curls a stunning shot into the top corner, giving the keeper no chance. Built from relentless pressure down the right, and finished with pure class. India are flying at 4-0.

No stopping her this time. Lynda Kom has the first crack but the Iraqi keeper blocks it. Ratanbala pounces on the rebound, but her shot is saved too, only for the ball to fall right back at her feet.

She makes no mistake on the second go, smashing it into the roof of the net. India now five goals to the good.

India still have time, can they squeeze in one more to boost that goal difference?

That’s a wrap from us! We’ll catch you soon with another live blog, until then, take care and bye-bye.