Who will India play in AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers?

Naushad Moosa will lead Blue Colts in the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers.

The India U23 men’s national team, on Thursday, May 29, 2025, have been drawn in Group H of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, after the draw ceremony was conducted at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The seedings for the draw were based on a points system derived from the teams’ final rankings across the previous three editions of the tournament. India were placed in Pot 3.

The Indian U23 team, coach by former Bengaluru FC and NorthEast United FC coach Naushad Moosa, will travel to Qatar to participate in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifier fixtures.

Unlike the U20 team, which recently won the SAFF U20 Championship by defeating Bangladesh in the Finals, the performance of the U23 side has been underwhelming. Since 2014, the U23 side has had a winning accuracy of less than 50%, winning just 7 out of the 18 matches in more than a decade.

The upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers presents a golden opportunity for Naushad Moosa and the Blue Colts to go all guns blazing and showcase their talent among the best footballing nations on the continent, if not the world.

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

Who will India play in AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers

The draw ceremony of the Asian U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers took place at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Blue Colts have been drawn alongside opponents like Qatar, Bahrain and Brunei Darussalam in Group H.

The matches will be played in the home venue of the highest-seeded team. Qatar, which hosted the FIFA World Cup 2022 and the AFC Asian Cup 2023, will host all the matches of Group H. The matches will be played between 1st to 9th September 2025.

Among the 11 groups, the table toppers and the best four runners up, alongside host Saudi Arabia, will compete in the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026.

Can Naushad Moosa do miracles with Blue Colts?

The U23 team have had a disastrous campaign so far, but Naushad Moosa will have ample time to prepare for the vital qualifier matches. The Blue Colts will assemble in Kolkata from June 1 onwards for a training camp before heading to Tajikistan to play two friendly matches against Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic.

Several players from the ISL who have impressed this season have been called up for the camp. This includes Nikhil Barla, Vibin Mohanan, Korou Singh and Mohammed Sanan as well.

Naushad Moosa is a familiar name in the Indian footballing circuit. His vast experience, coupled with his ability to form close bonds with his players, can truly work wonders for the Blue Colts in their bid to finish among the top 2 best teams in Group H.

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