India to travel to Kuwait for AFC U-20 Asian Qualifiers Group H matches

Australia and Iraq are the other opponents in the group.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed the Kuwait Football Association as the host Member Association of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2023 Qualifiers Group H matches.

Additionally, Australia, who had earlier withdrawn from the tournament, have been reinstated to the group following the approval of the AFC Competitions Committee on September 12, 2022, in accordance with Articles 6.2 and 61.1 of the Competition Regulations.

Originally scheduled to take place in Basra, Iraq, the Group H ties will now take place from October 14 to 18, 2022 at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City where Australia, India, Iraq and Kuwait will battle for potentially two remaining spots in the AFC U-20 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2023, which is scheduled to be staged from March 1 to 18 next year.

The sides who finish top of their groups are assured of a place in Uzbekistan alongside the five best runners-up in the qualifiers.

Earlier in August, Australia withdrew from the qualifiers citing safety concerns due to the political crisis in Iraq. Their withdrawal left Group with just three teams - Iraq, India and Kuwait. However, once AFC removed Iraq as hosts and shifted the Group H matches in Kuwait, Australia were reinstated. The group qualifying matches will take place from October 14 to 18.

The 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup will take place in Uzbekistan from March 1 to 18. A total of 16 teams will take part in the tournament, with the top four teams then qualifying for next year's FIFA U-20 World Cup. Indonesia, who will play the tournament have already qualified for the World Cup as the host nation.

As many as 44 teams will participate in the AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers. Teams have been divided into 10 groups with four groups having five teams each and six groups having four teams each. The dates for the qualification are from September 10 to 18.