Between June and October 2025, the India U-23 men’s national football team undertook one of its most intense competitive cycles in recent years a nine-match run across Central, West, and Southeast Asia designed to prepare the next generation of Indian footballers for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Under Head Coach Naushad Moosa, the “Blue Colts” played with flair and energy, showing clear progress in attack but also suffering from recurring lapses in defensive concentration and game management. With a final record of three wins, one draw, and five defeats, India’s U-23s displayed promise but also painful inconsistency falling just short of qualifying for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2026, and exposing systemic flaws in the country’s player development structure.
The five-month cycle was divided into four distinct phases: conditioning and testing (June), tactical benchmarking (August), the AFC qualifiers (September), and consolidation through Southeast Asian friendlies (October). India’s journey began with two friendlies in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, continued with back-to-back fixtures against Iraq in Malaysia, and culminated in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Doha, followed by two post-qualifier matches against Indonesia.
In total, nine fixtures produced valuable data and a pattern: bright starts, creative attacking movement, and goals from young stars like Suhail Ahmad Bhat and Parthib Gogoi, but repeated second-half collapses and costly disciplinary mistakes that derailed the campaign at critical moments.
The campaign opened in Tursunzoda, Tajikistan, on June 18, 2025, with a 2–3 defeat that revealed both potential and fragility. India twice led through goals from Suhail Bhat (33’) and Parthib Gogoi (85’) but conceded twice in stoppage time after midfielder Ayush Chhetri was sent off. That collapse goals in the 90+1’ and 90+5’ highlighted the first red flag of the campaign: an inability to manage games under pressure or with a numerical disadvantage. The issue of defensive organization, communication, and composure would resurface repeatedly.
Indian Women Football: Shillong Friendlies Expose Structural Gaps Ahead of 2026 Asian Cup
A second friendly, four days later against Kyrgyzstan (0–0), saw Moosa rotate heavily, focusing on stabilizing the defense. The draw brought balance but little creativity, serving more as a mental reset than a tactical revelation.
Reality Check Against Iraq
In August, India faced Iraq U-23 in two closed-door games in Kuala Lumpur. The purpose was clear simulate the intensity and physicality of West Asian opposition ahead of the AFC qualifiers. The first match ended 1–2, and the second 1–3, both following a familiar trend: strong starts, first-half control, and second-half decline. In the second game, India led 1–0 at halftime before conceding thrice after the break a tactical and fitness collapse that underlined the need for improved in-game adaptability.
Coach Moosa, reflecting afterward, noted, “The players’ effort and attitude were excellent, but we need to improve decision-making and tactical cohesion in key moments.”
The analysis was accurate India’s pressing was sharp early on but unsustainable over 90 minutes. Once Iraq adjusted, India’s midfield shape and recovery pace disintegrated.
Near Miss in Doha
The real test came in September 2025, when India entered the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Group H (hosted in Doha). Only group winners and the four best runners-up would qualify. India’s group included Qatar, Bahrain, and Brunei Darussalam.
Match 1 – India 2–0 Bahrain (Sept 3)
India began perfectly. Goals from Suhail (32’) and Shivaldo Singh (90+5’) sealed a confident victory and valuable clean sheet. The structure was disciplined, with Suhail’s link-up play and Vibin Mohanan’s midfield control earning praise.
Match 2 – India 1–2 Qatar (Sept 6)
This was the turning point. Against the hosts, India showed fight equalizing through Suhail (52’) after falling behind early — but collapsed again after defender Pramveer conceded a penalty and was sent off in the 67th minute. Qatar scored the winner from the spot, and India’s ten men failed to recover.
This was the second major red card in five months both directly costing results. The lack of emotional control and defensive maturity became a decisive factor.
Match 3 – India 6–0 Brunei (Sept 9)
With qualification hinging on goal difference, India demolished Brunei. Six unanswered goals maximized their statistics but couldn’t erase the damage from the Qatar loss. Despite finishing with six points and a +5 goal difference, India placed fifth among the 11 runners-up, narrowly missing qualification. The margin for failure was razor-thin a single draw against Qatar would have changed everything.
To close the cycle, India played two friendlies against Indonesia U-23 in Jakarta (Oct 10 & 13).
Match 1: India won 2–1, courtesy of an electric first-half brace from Suhail Bhat (5’, 26’).
Match 2: A 1–1 draw followed, with Korou Singh Thingujam scoring India’s equalizer.
Though unbeaten, India conceded to the same Indonesian player Dony Tri Pamungkas in both games, highlighting a recurring issue in tactical preparation and defensive marking. Still, these games proved vital for morale and squad chemistry. The combination of Suhail, Thingujam, and Vibin in midfield and attack showed cohesion, while the defense began regaining structure.
Key Player Progress
- Suhail Ahmad Bhat emerged as the team’s talisman, scoring five goals and leading the press with aggression and confidence.
- Korou Singh Thingujam showed versatility and tactical awareness across multiple roles.
- Vibin Mohanan provided composure and control in central areas, earning recognition as the side’s most reliable ball progressor.
However, defensive inconsistency particularly in central coordination and discipline remains the Achilles’ heel.
After the campaign, Coach Moosa issued a stark warning: many of his players would “return to their clubs and sit on the bench.”
This, he said, is the real threat to India’s long-term progress. The lack of consistent minutes in the Indian Super League (ISL) or I-League leaves young players underexposed to real match situations. Training camps can’t replicate competitive stress, late-game fatigue, or the emotional balance needed to manage tight games all factors behind India’s repeated second-half collapses.
The takeaway is clear: without structural reforms linking youth national teams to club playing time, no amount of coaching intervention can close the competitive gap with Asia’s best.
The Road to Aichi-Nagoya 2026
The U-23 format of the Asian Games allows for three overage players. Based on 2025’s lessons, these slots must be used strategically not on reputation, but on need:
- A senior center-back to bring leadership and discipline.
- A deep-lying midfielder to manage tempo and possession.
- A clinical forward to provide composure in front of goal.
Additionally, Moosa’s staff has recommended psychological resilience training, focusing on emotional regulation and communication the exact areas where matches were lost.
Four Strategic Recommendations for the AIFF
- Enforce Competitive Minutes: Work with clubs to guarantee playing time for key U-23s; otherwise, stagnation will continue.
- Mandatory Mental-Discipline Programs: Prevent the repeat of red-card meltdowns that cost qualification.
- Diversify Opponents: Schedule at least 4–6 friendlies against East Asian teams (Japan, Thailand, Vietnam) to expand tactical adaptability.
- Finalize Overage Policy: Select senior players who directly strengthen defense and midfield control.
India’s U-23s showed flashes of genuine progress structured buildup play, improved transitions, and individual brilliance. But their 2025 journey will be remembered for how discipline, not ability, decided their fate. The near-miss in Doha was painful, but it was also instructive. It proved that India can compete just not yet for 90 minutes. With the right reforms and consistent exposure, the same group that fell short in 2025 could well be the one to make history in Aichi 2026.
From Doha heartbreak to Nagoya hope the journey of India’s U-23s has only just begun.
