India U-20 to play Singapore & Yemen in four friendlies before AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers
Mahesh Gawali’s side are currently training in Bengaluru ahead of the continental qualifiers in Uzbekistan
The India U-20 men’s national team are set to play four international friendlies against Singapore and Yemen as part of their preparations for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers, Khel Now can exclusively reveal.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) have agreed to host the four matches in August, subject to Singapore and Yemen obtaining the necessary visas.
India are expected to face Singapore U-20 twice on August 3 and August 6, before taking on Yemen U-20 on August 20 and August 23. All four matches will be played in India, with the venue yet to be finalised by the AIFF.
The friendlies are expected to provide Mahesh Gawali’s side with valuable match practice before they travel to Uzbekistan for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers.
India U-20 camp underway in Bengaluru
The Blue Colts are currently training in Bengaluru after beginning their preparation camp earlier this month.
The camp, which initially started with open trials on June 11, is being conducted at The Sports School and the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence.
A total of 102 players attended the initial trials before head coach Mahesh Gawali shortlisted a squad of 26 players for the ongoing training camp.
Fifteen players have since been temporarily released to represent their clubs in the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) Japan Tour. The group includes eight players from Punjab FC, six from Bengaluru FC and one from FC Goa. They are expected to rejoin the national team after completing their club commitments.
The coaching staff will continue assessing the squad before naming the final group for the qualifiers.
India aim to bounce back after SAFF U-20 final defeat
India head into the qualifiers after finishing runners-up at the SAFF U-20 Championship 2026.
The Blue Colts topped their group with a 3-0 victory over Pakistan and a 1-1 draw against Bangladesh before defeating Bhutan 5-0 in the semi-finals.
However, Bangladesh edged India 4-3 on penalties in the final after the match ended goalless in regulation time.
Despite the defeat, Omang Dodum enjoyed an outstanding tournament. The midfielder was named the Most Valuable Player of the competition and finished as the joint-highest scorer with three goals.
Tough road awaits in Uzbekistan
India have been drawn in Group B alongside hosts Uzbekistan, Syria and Bangladesh.
The qualifiers will be played in a centralised single round-robin format in Tashkent from August 31 to September 6, 2026.
Only the eight group winners and the seven best second-placed teams will qualify for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup China 2027.
India U-20 schedule
International Friendlies
- August 3: India U-20 vs Singapore U-20
- August 6: India U-20 vs Singapore U-20
- August 20: India U-20 vs Yemen U-20
- August 23: India U-20 vs Yemen U-20
AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers
- August 31: Syria U-20 vs India U-20
- September 3: Uzbekistan U-20 vs India U-20
- September 6: Bangladesh U-20 vs India U-20
Who will India U-20 play before the AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers?
India U-20 are likely to play four friendly matches against Singapore U-20 and Yemen U-20 in August, subject to both visiting teams obtaining visas.
When will India U-20 play Singapore and Yemen?
India are expected to face Singapore on August 3 and 6, while matches against Yemen are scheduled for August 20 and 23.
Where will the India U-20 friendlies be played?
All four friendlies are expected to be hosted in India. The venue is yet to be confirmed by the AIFF.
Who are India’s opponents in the AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers?
India have been drawn in Group B alongside Uzbekistan, Syria and Bangladesh.
Who is coaching the India U-20 team?
The India U-20 men’s national team is coached by Mahesh Gawali.
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Ashish Negi is the co-founder and CEO of Khel Now. A computer engineering graduate from LPU (2015), he has been closely following and covering Indian football and sports since 2007. He started the Indian Football Team Facebook page in 2013 and later handed it over to the AIFF in 2015 when it had grown to over 500K followers. Ashish continues to drive Khel Now’s vision while staying deeply connected to the pulse of Indian sport.