India's head-to-head record against AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers opponents Maldives

Both teams have never qualified for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup.

The India U-23 men’s national team will face the likes of the United Arab Emirates, Maldives and China in Group G of the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers. The host nation for the fixtures from this group will be China. For the Indian team, the upcoming fixtures pose a stiff challenge but the dream of making it into the main stage of the tournament may spring up some surprises.

A total of 16 teams will move into the main stage of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup. Igor Stimac faces an uphill task of beating the likes of UAE, Maldives and China from Group G, which promises to be extremely exciting. 

From the three teams, India will favour its chances against the Maldives. The Blue Tigers will open their qualifiers campaign against the nation on 6 September 2023, hoping to start off with a win. Interestingly, India U-23 and the Maldives U-23 have never qualified for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup and will look to create history at the upcoming qualifiers by doing it for the first time ever.

Both teams have met a handful of times before and here is a look at how that turned out:

India U-23 2 - 1 Maldives U-23, 2006 Asian Games, Doha

This was the first meeting between the U-23 teams of both nations where India managed a 2-1 win, courtesy goals from Surkumar Singh and Subhas Chakrobarty. However, a draw and a defeat in their other two group games meant India could not qualify for the knockout stages.

India U-23 0 - 0 Maldives U-23, 7 February 2010, SAFF Games

India U-23 played a goalless draw with the Maldives U-23. This remains the only occasion where the men’s national team could not secure a win against the South Asian nation.

India U-23 3 - 2 Maldives U-23, 10 February 2016, SAFF Games

The last time India U-23 and the Maldives U-23 met on the football field, it was an entertaining contest in Guwahati, India. Both sides were level at 2-2 at half-time but the Indian side scored the winner in the second half to secure the win by a 3-2 scoreline. Players like Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Udanta Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte and more were part of the Indian squad.