The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Wednesday announced that Amelia Valverde’s contract as the Indian women’s football team head coach will not be extended. The 39-year-old Costa Rican was handed charge of the national team in January. Her first major assignment was the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, which was held in Australia earlier this month.
Appearing in the continental showpiece after more than two decades, India endured a disappointing campaign Down Under and exited the tournament after finishing the group stage without a win.
The Indian team suffered a 2-1 heartbreak to Vietnam in their group opener after conceding a late goal. They were then subjected to an 11-0 drubbing by eventual champions Japan before closing their campaign with a 3-1 defeat to Chinese Taipei.
India bow out of AFC Women’s Asian Cup after suffering a 1-3 loss to Chinese Taipei
Following the string of underpar results, the AIFF has decided to end its association with Valverde.
The AIFF’s Technical Committee had met online on Tuesday to discuss the future of both the men’s and women’s national teams.
TC recommends Indian coach for senior women’s team
The meeting was chaired by IM Vijayan, along with members Harjinder Singh, Shabbir Ali, Victor Amalraj, Climax Lawrence, and Santosh Singh, who recommended that the Federation look at Indian coaches as possible options to take over as the head coach of the senior Indian women’s national team, which had returned from their AFC Women’s Asian Cup campaign earlier this month.
India routed by Japan 11-0, but still alive in quarterfinal race in AFC Women’s Asian Cup
The Technical Committee thanked Amelia Valverde, who led the Indian women’s team as the head coach at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, and wished her the very best for her future endeavours.
The committee opined that with matches coming up for the women’s team in the April FIFA International Window, and the SAFF Women’s Championship to be held in June, this would be a good opportunity for an Indian coach to take charge.
It recommended that as Mahesh Gawali has been appointed head coach of the India Under-20 national team to oversee the transition of players from the junior to the senior level, Renjith TA will be appointed as the assistant coach of the senior men’s Indian football team.
A new chapter Down Under: Indian women to launch Asian Cup journey against Vietnam
Furthermore, the committee recommended the formation of a study group with one Technical Committee member, one AIFF coach instructor, and a scout to analyse the matches of the India Under-23 men’s national team at the Under-23 Tri-Nation in Arunachal Pradesh. The group will assess player performance and decide who may be ready for the senior level, while also identifying the areas where the team needs to improve.
