India U-23 Football Team to play two friendlies against Thailand as Asian Games preparations continue

Naushad Moosa’s boys continue their preparation for the 2026 Asian Games with another set of twin friendlies.

The India U-23 Football Team will continue their steady build-up toward the 2026 Asian Games with another set of international friendlies, this time against Thailand U-23 during the November 2025 international window.

After an encouraging tour of Indonesia this month, where India U-23 defeated the hosts 2–1 in the first match and played out a 1–1 draw in the second, Naushad Moosa’s boys will now travel to Thailand to face the home side, likely on November 15 and November 18, 2025.

“AIFF is in the final stage of arrangements to play the twin friendlies against Thailand, likely on 15th and 18th November 2025,” said a source tracking the India U-23 setup.

Momentum continues after impressive Indonesia friendlies

The recent matches against Indonesia gave coach Moosa a chance to try new players post the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers, and the squad delivered two strong performances.

Striker Suhail Ahmad Bhat scored twice in the first match, Korou Singh Thingujam found the net in the second, while Dipendu Biswas featured in both games, anchoring the defence. All three made their comeback to the team after missing the qualifiers. 

The games also saw several promising youngsters make their U-23 debuts, including Sumit Sharma, Bekey Oram, Danny Meitei Laishram, Roshan Singh Thangjam, Sanatomba Singh Yanglem, and Thoi Singh Huidrom. After players like Pramveer and Macarton Nickson earned promotions to the national team and some others weren’t released by their clubs.

Coach Moosa has kept his focus on experimentation and squad depth, using every window to evaluate options. Since March 2024, the India U-23 side has already played eight friendlies and three official AFC qualifiers, leaving a strong impression with their energetic, possession-based football.

Eyes on the Asian Games 2026

Speaking recently about his plans, Naushad Moosa said:

“Our next target is the Asian Games, so that’ll be another 10 months for us. It’ll be great if we get competitive matches before that. The results in the U23 qualifiers showed that exposure games against Iraq, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan helped us improve massively.”

The friendly matches against Thailand come at a crucial time. With the senior national team now out of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification race, Indian football fans are increasingly turning their attention to this dynamic U-23 side, a team seen as the foundation of the next generation of Blue Tigers, considering India’s next official assignment will be in November 2027. 

Nine players from this U-23 squad have already been called up to the senior national camp in October, including Vibin Mohanan, Pramveer, Fanai, Mohammed Aimen, Muhammed Suhail and Mohammed Sanan etc, showing how the developmental bridge between the two levels is starting to work effectively.

The Thailand U-23 Football Team, preparing for the Southeast Asian Games in December 2025, will provide a high-tempo away test for India. Both teams are looking for quality minutes and tactical sharpness ahead of their respective major tournaments.

Thailand away offers the kind of intensity India will need as a reference point heading toward the Asian Games 2026. For Moosa and his staff, this is another opportunity to test new combinations, evaluate fringe players, and solidify the identity of a side that has steadily become one of Indian football’s most exciting projects.

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