Indian football’s developmental journey will enter a crucial testing phase this month and next as two national youth teams embark on important international assignments.
The India U20 Women’s team will play a pair of friendlies against Kazakhstan U19 Women on October 25 and 28 in Shymkent, while the India U23 Men’s team will take on Thailand U23 on November 15 and 18, as reported by KhelNow.
These matches may be labelled “friendlies,” but for the All India Football Federation (AIFF), they carry far greater significance. They form part of a long-term, structured strategy to prepare both teams for the continental challenges that lie ahead and to measure how effectively India’s youth football development pathways are now translating into international competitiveness.
Young Tigresses: Building Momentum After a Historic Milestone
For India’s U20 women, the Kazakhstan friendlies come at a defining moment. Earlier this year, the Young Tigresses achieved something not seen in nearly two decades qualification for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026, breaking a 19-year drought since their last appearance in 2006.
Their qualification campaign in Yangon, Myanmar, was emphatic: unbeaten across three matches, they topped Group D without conceding a single goal. A 7–0 demolition of Turkmenistan, a 0–0 draw with Indonesia, and a 1–0 win over hosts Myanmar sealed their passage.
The success, as the AIFF noted, wasn’t accidental. It was the product of years of investment in the women’s football ecosystem, anchored by the ASMITA Women’s Leagues, a nationwide initiative under the Khelo India Scheme. Between 2023 and 2025, 155 ASMITA leagues were held at the U13, U15, and U17 levels, drawing participation from nearly 9,000 players in the latest season a 37% jump from the previous year.
The numbers are translating into results. India’s registered women footballers have increased by over 230% in just a year, and the U20 team’s continental breakthrough stands as living proof that the grassroots-to-elite pipeline is beginning to function as intended.
Kazakhstan Friendlies: A European-Style Test
The two upcoming matches against Kazakhstan U19 Women are part of a carefully curated exposure program. Kazakhstan, though part of the AFC geographically, competes under the UEFA structure in women’s football meaning the Young Tigresses will face an opponent shaped by European tactical systems and physical conditioning standards rarely seen in Asian competition.
Kazakhstan’s recent performances including draws against Malta and Romania, and a 7–0 win over Liechtenstein make them a well-rounded side capable of testing India’s defensive organization and pressing patterns.
This exposure is precisely what head coach Joakim Alexandersson and the AIFF’s technical department sought: opponents who play a structured, physically demanding game that mirrors what India will face at the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup next April in Thailand.
“Kazakhstan offers a very different challenge they’re organized, strong, and play a direct, pressing style. We want to see how our players cope under that intensity,” Alexandersson remarked ahead of departure.
The Swede, who has overseen India’s youth setup since 2023, has steadily built a team defined by tactical flexibility and a strong mentality. His methods were evident during the team’s July 2025 tour of Uzbekistan, where India drew 1–1 in the first match but bounced back with a 4–1 victory in the second. The ability to adapt mid-series, improve pressing triggers, and control transitions impressed the coaching staff qualities that will be tested again in Shymkent.
The current U20 squad features several players already integrated into the senior setup, a deliberate move by the AIFF to ensure seamless progression through the national pathway. Goalkeeper Monalisha Devi Moirangthem, who was part of the senior squad that qualified for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, brings leadership and experience to the youth side. Defenders like Alina Chingakham and Shubhangi Singh, and forwards like Sulanjana Raul, have also benefited from training stints alongside senior internationals.
That overlap between age groups reflects an evolution in India’s women’s football philosophy one that now values continuity, consistency, and early exposure to senior-level intensity.
These matches, therefore, go far beyond short-term results. They’re a litmus test of India’s ability to compete physically, adapt tactically, and maintain mental composure against opponents who mirror the European athletic model.
Blue Colts: A Regional Reality Check in Thailand
While the Young Tigresses head west, the India U23 Men’s team will travel east next month for two friendlies against Thailand U23 a powerhouse in Southeast Asian football and a seven-time SEA Games champion.
Led by Head Coach Naushad Moosa, the Blue Colts approach these matches with a clear mission: prove parity against a strong ASEAN benchmark. These games come just months after India’s AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifying campaign, where they thrashed Brunei 6–0 but fell short of advancing.
The focus now is on consolidation. The Thailand matches are designed to assess how effectively the U23 structure which feeds directly into the senior national team is functioning in terms of technical quality, defensive organization, and physical endurance.
Thailand: Measuring Progress Against a Regional Giant
The stakes for these games go beyond wins or losses. Thailand remains one of Asia’s most organized youth programs, consistently producing senior internationals through its U23 setup. For India, these matches represent a reality check on how much progress has been made since the dark days of the 2014 Asian Games, when India U23 suffered a crushing 0–10 defeat to Thailand.
This time, the picture is very different. India’s U23s are drawn largely from the Indian Super League (ISL) and the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL), both of which have professionalized the youth-to-senior transition. Players like Vibin Mohanan, Mohammed Aimen, and Sivasakthi Narayanan are already regulars in top-flight domestic football.
The Thailand U23 squad, coached by Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul, is also preparing for the SEA Games, ensuring high intensity and competitive sharpness. For India, preventing wide-margin defeats, maintaining compact defensive shape, and creating transition chances will be the key objectives.
Players to Watch: India U23 Core
| Player | Position | Background | Key Role |
| Vibin Mohanan | Midfielder | Kerala Blasters / RFDL | Central orchestrator, scored hat-trick vs Brunei |
| Mohammed Aimen | Forward | RFYS Graduate | Two-goal finisher in qualifiers, key in counters |
| Bikash Yumnam | Defender | Captain | Leadership, defensive organization |
| Ayush Dev Chhetri | Midfielder | Senior NT exposure | Adds tactical balance and control |
Moosa’s system emphasizes defensive discipline with flexible pressing, aiming to use pace on the break. The Thailand matches will also test how well India’s midfielders can handle sustained possession phases a known Thai strength.
What unites both programs the U20 women and U23 men is a shared developmental philosophy now visible across Indian football. The AIFF has shifted from short-term results to long-term structural growth, emphasizing consistent exposure to varied international styles.
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By facing UEFA-trained Kazakhstan and ASEAN powerhouse Thailand, Indian teams are experiencing diverse tactical systems that force adaptability a critical step toward bridging the competitive gap with Asia’s elite.
The federation’s decision to schedule such fixtures within official FIFA windows reflects a deliberate alignment with global best practices. Unlike in previous years, where age-group teams often faced only regional or domestic opposition, India’s youth squads now engage in meaningful tests that expose both strengths and weaknesses under international pressure.
The friendlies in Kazakhstan and Thailand may not earn India ranking points, but they could yield something far more valuable clarity and confidence.
For the U20 women, the matches will shape final preparations before next year’s AFC U20 Asian Cup, providing a benchmark against European-style intensity. For the U23 men, facing Thailand offers an honest appraisal of how far India’s youth-to-senior transition has come and how far it still needs to go.
These encounters symbolize a growing maturity within Indian football’s developmental architecture. Wins would be welcome, but even in defeat, valuable lessons await. The key lies in ensuring that every friendly serves its purpose as a bridge from promise to performance.
