AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers: Positives from India's historic campaign

India edged Iran to qualify for the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup.

The India U17 team has given Indian football fans a reason to cling to the sinking boat of Indian Football. Amidst the chaos in Indian football, when everyone in the ecosystem was trying to survive, the Indian U17 team has almost pulled off a miracle.

The Blue Colts qualified for the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia after defeating Iran in the group decider on the last matchday of the AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers.

With this, Bibiano Fernandes has maintained his impeccable record of guiding India to the AFC U17 Asian Cup each time he has been at the helm.

Indian Football has one more reason to stay alive

Some results have their consequences and meaning well beyond the pitch. Indian Football is transitioning through arguably its darkest phase. With no commercial partners on board, the leagues in this country have come to a grinding halt. From the top division Indian Super League to the lower division leagues, there is disarray all around.

The performance of the senior national men’s team has added to this misery. The Blue Tigers could not qualify for the 24-nation AFC Asian Cup after participating in the last two consecutive editions.

India’s elimination from the AFC Asian Cup is almost a fatal blow to the already crumbling edifice of Indian Football.

Amid all this, India’s qualification for the AFC U17 Asian Cup, which featured teams like Iran and Lebanon, is a lifeline. The stakeholders in Indian Football have one more reason to dissipate the chaos before it is too late to salvage.

Also Read: AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers updated points table: India tops Group D to qualify for continental showpiece

Talent pool has not dried up

When the Blue Colts missed out on qualification for the 2025 AFC U17 Asian Cup, it appeared as if whatever progress India had made in unearthing talent was fading away. That also coincided with Bibiano Fernandes‘ time away from the U17 set-up.

However, the AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign has renewed hope in the youngsters coming up the ranks, not because of the system but despite it. We are not yet placing adequate emphasis on grassroots, but the good news is that young players are making their dreams of wearing the Indian jersey a reality purely based on their talent.

Should AIFF encourages the grassroots ecosystem, we can have a large pool of talented youngsters who can represent the country in the future.

Blue Colts pass the mental test

In international football, skill and talent are the prerequisites for progress, but another important aspect of the game is mental preparation. Competing at the international level demands brilliance with the ball and mental fortitude to withstand the emotional and psychological rigours.

The highlight of this campaign was India’s spectacular comebacks. On two occasions, the Blue Colts turned the tables after conceding early in the match. Against Chinese Taipei, India were one goal down in the fourth minute, but the early jolt was followed by a heroic comeback as the hosts clinched the match 3-1.

In a must-win game against giant Iran, Bibiano’s team did not surrender after conceding in the 19th minute. On the contrary, the Blue Colts kept themselves in the game and ground their way back to script a memorable story that Indian football fans will remember for years.

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