IR Iran Triumphs Over Palestine in AFC U17 Qualifiers; India Faces Lebanon Setback

In a thrilling AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers match, IR Iran defeated Palestine 3-1, positioning themselves for advancement. Meanwhile, India faced a challenging 0-2 loss against Lebanon, putting their qualification hopes on the line as they prepare to face Iran in a must-win match. The stakes are high for India's young squad as they aim for a historic tenth appearance in the tournament. Read on to find out more about the matches and what lies ahead for these teams.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 29, 2025, 08:56 IST

IR Iran Secures Victory Against Palestine

In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, IR Iran celebrated their second victory in the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers, defeating Palestine 3-1 in a Group D match held at the EKA Arena. According to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), a draw against India on Sunday would guarantee their advancement to the next stage.

Palestine initially took the lead when substitute Adam Kafafi scored in the 43rd minute, catching everyone off guard. However, IR Iran came back strong after halftime.

Jafar Asadi equalized in the 49th minute and then put Iran ahead with a well-placed shot in the 68th minute. Just four minutes later, captain Mahan Beheshti sealed the victory with a calm finish, ensuring Iran's dominance in Group D.

India's Challenge Against Lebanon

In their penultimate Group D match, India faced a tough 0-2 defeat against a well-organized Lebanon team at the EKA Arena, as reported by the AIFF. Despite this loss being their first in the qualifiers, coach Bibiano Fernandes' squad remains in contention for qualification.

India will meet group leaders IR Iran in a crucial match on Sunday, where only a win will secure their spot in the AFC U17 Asian Cup for the tenth time.

Lebanon scored twice in the first half, with goals from Antoine Assaf in the 26th minute and Paul Maakaroun in the 38th minute. The Blue Colts ended the match with ten players after Thonggoumang Touthang received a red card during stoppage time.

Entering the match with confidence from a previous 3-1 victory over Chinese Taipei, India struggled against Lebanon's relentless pressure, which exposed weaknesses in their defense.