India U23 Draw Tough Group in AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Qatar, Bahrain and Brunei Await the Blue Colts in Doha
The journey to the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 begins in earnest for the Indian U23 men’s national football team, as they were drawn into Group H of the qualifiers alongside hosts Qatar, Bahrain, and Brunei Darussalam. The qualifiers will be held in Doha from September 1 to 9, 2025, with all group fixtures set to be played in Qatar.
The stakes are high. Out of 44 participating teams spread across 11 groups, only the group winners and the four best runners-up will qualify for the final tournament in Saudi Arabia, joining the hosts to complete a 16-team lineup.
Group H – A Mixed Bag of Challenges
India’s Group H fixtures are as follows:
- September 3, 2025: 🇮🇳 India vs 🇧🇭 Bahrain
- September 6, 2025: 🇮🇳 India vs 🇶🇦 Qatar
- September 9, 2025: 🇮🇳 India vs 🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam
The draw could have been kinder. Qatar, five-time participants in the U23 Asian Cup and the top-seeded team in the group, will be playing on home turf and are strong contenders to top the group. Bahrain, with one previous appearance, possess solid regional pedigree. Brunei, while considered the group’s underdogs, remain an unpredictable opponent. India, despite making significant progress at the youth level in recent years, are yet to qualify for an AFC U23 Asian Cup — a fact that adds pressure but also offers motivation.
India’s U23 Campaign: A Fresh Chapter Under Naushad Moosa
Ahead of the qualifiers, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) appointed Naushad Moosa as head coach of the India U23 men’s national team. Moosa, a seasoned coach with a strong track record in youth development and domestic football, officially takes charge on June 1, 2025.
The new coach will oversee a training camp in Kolkata, following which the squad will travel to Dushanbe, Tajikistan, for two exposure friendlies:
- June 18: 🇮🇳 India U23 vs 🇹🇯 Tajikistan U23
- June 21: 🇮🇳 India U23 vs 🇰🇬 Kyrgyz Republic U23
These friendlies are designed to simulate the conditions and challenges India will face in Doha and to assess the 29-member probable squad named by Moosa. With just three months between the friendlies and the qualifiers, India will aim to utilise the FIFA international windows effectively, giving the squad ample time to gel and gain competitive match experience.
Historical Context: A Chance to Break New Ground
India’s U23 squad has never made it to the AFC U23 Asian Cup. The tournament, which began in 2013, has increasingly grown in stature as a platform for Asian nations to groom the next generation of senior internationals. While the likes of Qatar and Japan have used it as a launchpad for global success, India are still seeking their breakthrough.
Qatar are undoubtedly the group’s biggest threat. Having featured in five of the six editions so far, they’ve made the semi-finals twice and are known for their elite Aspire Academy-trained talent pool. Playing at home further strengthens their position as favourites to top the group.
Bahrain, although not regulars, have fielded disciplined youth sides in recent West Asian tournaments, while Brunei—though the least experienced—will look to play spoiler and seize any opportunity that comes their way.
For India, the road is tough but not impossible. A second-place finish in the group could still be enough to advance, depending on results across other groups. But the margin for error is slim.
Roadmap to 2026 Asian Games and Beyond
The AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers are just the beginning. The appointment of Naushad Moosa comes with a long-term vision — to prepare a solid core for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan. Many of the current U23 players could be key contributors at that event, and giving them sustained exposure is part of a broader developmental strategy.
India’s youth teams have shown signs of growth in recent years. The U17 and U20 teams have held their own in regional competitions, and the Indian Arrows project, though discontinued, laid the groundwork for many of today’s top prospects. Moosa’s focus will be on maintaining that momentum, instilling tactical discipline, and ensuring players understand the demands of international football.
India’s U23 challenge in Doha will test their talent, temperament, and tactical preparation. While the draw is difficult, it also provides the perfect stage for India’s young stars to prove themselves. The presence of seasoned performers like Vikram Pratap Singh, Gurkirat Singh, or promising new faces from the ISL and I-League youth circuits could prove vital.
The squad’s performance will not just impact qualification for Saudi Arabia 2026 but will also set the tone for India’s preparations toward the Asian Games and possibly the next cycle of senior national team transitions.
As the countdown to September begins, Indian football fans will hope that the Blue Colts can make history by securing a maiden berth at the AFC U23 Asian Cup.
Tough group? Yes.
Impossible mission? Certainly not.
Let the campaign begin.
