Exclusive: AIFF maps long-term plan for India U23 ahead of AFC Qualifiers & Asian Games 2026

India U23 Men’s Football Team eye strategic reset ahead of major tournaments

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is changing its approach to the India U-23 Men’s National Team setup. With an eye on long-term development and consistent international exposure, 29 players have been shortlisted for a preparatory camp ahead of upcoming friendlies in June 2025 and major tournaments later this year.

Youth development success at U-16 level

India’s youth football journey has seen notable progress, especially at the U-16 level. Since 2016, under Bibiano Fernandes, the India U-16 side qualified for the AFC U-17 Championship three times and even made it to the quarter-finals in 2018. However, this upward curve hasn’t quite translated to the U-20 or U-23 age brackets.

One major issue has been a lack of regular matches. While other nations utilize every FIFA window for youth matches, India’s U-20 and U-23 teams often gather just before major qualifiers, leaving little room for team-building or tactical cohesion.

Struggles at the U-23 Level: The numbers tell the story

The India U-23 team has had a tough run, winning just 7 out of 18 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers since 2014. The tournament doubles as an Olympic qualifier, and India hasn’t come close to reaching it.

In the Asian Games, also, the record is underwhelming: 9 losses in 16 games since 2002. In 2018, the U-23 team wasn’t even sent due to disagreements with the Indian Olympic Association. Only in 2022, after a last-minute intervention by AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, did the team manage to compete.

A shift in strategy: Regular camps & FIFA window utilization

Coach Naushad Moosa, who led the U-23s in March 2025 against Malaysia, has been tasked with building a more cohesive unit this time around.

The team will face Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in Dushanbe, tentatively on June 18 and 21, 2025, as part of preparations for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers scheduled from September 1–9, 2025.

“Going forward, the India U-23 team will have camps parallel to the senior national team. Since long camps aren’t feasible due to club commitments, the idea is to utilize every FIFA window for U-23 development,” a senior AIFF official told Khel Now.

29 players called up for camp in Kolkata

The coaching staff reviewed over 100 players before narrowing the squad to 29. The list includes several ISL regulars from the 2024-25 season, such as Nikhil Barla, Dippendu Biswas, Vibin Mohanan, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Macarton Louis Nickson, Korou Singh and Mohammed Sanan, who all clocked over 900 minutes.

The squad also includes former U-16/U-19 standouts like Sahil, Bikash Yumnam, Pramveer, Korou Singh, Manglethang Kipgen and Parthib Sundar Gogoi. However, concerns remain about the lack of established goal-scorers, with only Alan Saji (FC Goa) and Joseph Sunny (Hyderabad FC) seen as central striker options.

India U-23 Football Team 29 probables for Kolkata Camp: Full list

Goalkeepers

• Sahil (Bengaluru FC)
• Priyansh Dube (Mohun Bagan)
• MD Arbaz (On Loan to Real Kashmir From Kerala Blasters)

Defenders

• Nikhil Barla (Jamshedpur FC)
• Dippendu Biswas (Mohun Bagan)
• Bikash Yumnamm, Muhammed Saheef (Kerala Blasters)
• Pramveer (Punjab FC)
• Clarence Savio F (On Loan to SC Bengaluru From Hyderabad FC)
• Sajad Hussain Parray (Mohammedan SC)
• Subham Bhattacharya (Odisha FC)
• Suman Dey (East Bengal)

Midfielders

• Vibin Mohanan, Korou Singh, Mohammed Aimen (Kerala Blasters)
• Lalremtluanga Fanai, Vinith Venkatesh, Harsh Patre, Shivaldo Singh (Bengaluru FC)
• Rahul Raju (Gokulam Kerala FC)
• Lalrinliana Hnamte (Chennaiyin FC)
• Macarton Louis Nickson, Huidrom Thoi Singh (NorthEast United)
• Manglethang Kipgen, Md. Suhail (Punjab FC)
• Mohammed Sanan (Jamshedpur FC)

Forwards

• Alan Saji (FC Goa)
• Joseph Sunny (Hyderabad FC)
• Parthib Sundar Gogoi (NorthEast United)

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