India U17 men's football team to play two friendlies against Qatar in Doha
New Delhi, April 20
The Indian U17 football men's team will play two friendly matches against Qatar on April 25 and 28, in Doha, Qatar.
The friendlies, India's last two preparatory games before the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026, will be played behind closed doors. Both matches will kick off at 21:30 IST, according to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) release.
The Blue Colts are currently in Thailand to play two friendlies against the United Arab Emirates, the first of which they won 1-0 on Friday.
After the second game on Tuesday, Bibiano Fernandes' side will depart for Doha on April 22. They will travel from Doha to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on April 30. In the AFC U17 Asian Cup, India will take on Australia on May 6, Uzbekistan on May 10 and DPR Korea on May 13 in Group D.
The entire 24-member Blue Colts' squad will travel to Doha. The final 23-member squad for the Asian Cup will be announced closer to the tournament.
India U17 men's friendlies schedule in Doha:21:30 IST, April 25: Qatar vs India21:30 IST, April 28: Qatar vs India.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Why are the matches behind closed doors? It's a friendly! Would have been great for our young players to experience a crowd, even a small one, before a major tournament. AIFF should reconsider this for future friendlies.
Tough group in the Asian Cup with Australia and Uzbekistan. These friendlies are crucial. Hope the team works on set-pieces and defending. Qatar has a strong youth setup, so it will be a real test. Jai Hind!
The scheduling seems intense - Thailand, then Doha, then Jeddah. I hope the management is monitoring the players' fatigue and recovery closely. Youth development is a marathon, not a sprint. Best of luck to Coach Bibiano and the team!
Finally some proper planning from AIFF! A full preparatory tour before a big tournament. This is how you build a team. Let's hope this translates into a good performance and maybe even a surprise result against Australia. 💙
Exciting times for Indian football at the youth level. The focus should be on learning and gaining experience, not just results. Even one player from this batch making it to the senior team would be a huge success. All the best, Blue Colts!
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