India youth football teams prepare for AFC Asian Cup qualifiers

India’s youth football teams are preparing for upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualification tournaments.

For the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, head coach Mahesh Gawali has named a 23-player squad. The tournament will take place in Tashkent from August 31 to September 6. India is placed in Group B and will face Syria, Uzbekistan, and Bangladesh. The squad was finalized after assessing over one hundred players during trials in Bengaluru.

Simultaneously, the India U17 men’s team has been drawn into Group E for the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers. These matches will be held in Malaysia from November 11 to 20, 2024. India’s opponents in the group include Malaysia, Palestine, Singapore, and Guam. The team aims to secure its 11th appearance in the tournament, with group winners advancing to the main event in Uzbekistan.