India U23 Men's Team Drawn in Group H for AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers

The India U23 men's national football team has been drawn into Group H for the upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, which will take place in Qatar. The group includes Qatar, Bahrain, and Brunei Darussalam. Matches are scheduled from September 1 to 9, 2023. Under the guidance of newly appointed head coach Naushad Moosa, the team will prepare through training camps and friendly matches leading up to the qualifiers. This article provides insights into the group draw and the team's preparation plans.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 30, 2025, 02:01 IST

India's Grouping in AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers

The U23 men's national football team of India has been placed in Group H for the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, following a draw held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Joining India in Group H are Qatar, Bahrain, and Brunei Darussalam. Qatar, being the top-seeded team, will host the matches scheduled from September 1 to 9, according to information from the AIFF.

A total of 44 teams have been organized into 11 groups, each consisting of four teams. The winners of each group, along with the four best runners-up and the host nation Saudi Arabia, will qualify for the 16-team lineup for the seventh edition of the AFC U23 Asian Cup, set to occur in January 2026.

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The draw's seedings were determined by a points system based on the teams' final standings in the last three tournaments, with India being placed in Pot 3.

Naushad Moosa has been appointed as the head coach for the U23 national team, taking over on June 1. The Blue Colts will gather in Kolkata for a training camp before heading to Tajikistan for two friendly matches against Tajikistan on June 18 and the Kyrgyz Republic on June 21.

To prepare for the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, the India U23 team plans to utilize all FIFA International windows for training camps and friendly matches.

AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers Draw Results:

Group A: Jordan (H), Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei, Bhutan

Group B: Japan, Kuwait, Myanmar (H), Afghanistan

Group C: Vietnam (H), Yemen, Singapore, Bangladesh

Group D: Australia, China (H), Timor-Leste, Northern Mariana Islands

Group E: Uzbekistan, Palestine, Kyrgyz Republic (H), Sri Lanka

Group F: Thailand (H), Malaysia, Lebanon, Mongolia

Group G: Iraq, Cambodia (H), Oman, Pakistan

Group H: Qatar (H), Bahrain, India, Brunei Darussalam

Group I: United Arab Emirates (H), Iran, Hong Kong China, Guam

Group J: Korea Republic, Indonesia (H), Laos, Macau

Group K: Tajikistan, Syria, Philippines, Nepal.