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Key Points

India is set to compete against Qatar, Bahrain, and Brunei Darussalam in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, grouped together in Group H. The matches will be hosted by Qatar from September 1-9. Naushad Moosa, the new head coach of India's U23 team, will lead them in preparation starting June with training camps and exposure friendlies in Tajikistan. The team aims to maximize its performance by utilizing all available FIFA International windows, setting the stage for a competitive tournament.

Key Points: India Draws Qatar Bahrain Brunei for AFC U23 Cup Qualifiers

  • India drawn with Qatar Bahrain Brunei in Group H
  • Qatar hosts Group H matches in September
  • Naushad Moosa leads India U23 preparations starting June
2 min read

India to play Qatar, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam in AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers

India to face Qatar, Bahrain, Brunei in AFC U23 Qualifiers in September.

"The Blue Colts will utilize all FIFA International windows. - AIFF Official"

New Delhi, May 29

The India U23 men's national team has been drawn in Group H of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, after a draw ceremony was conducted at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Alongside India Qatar, Bahrain, and Brunei Darussalam are in Group H. Qatar, the highest-seeded team among the four, will host Group H, with the matches slated to be played between September 1 to 9, as per the AIFF official website.

A total of 44 teams were divided into 11 groups of four each. The group winners and the four best runners-up, alongside hosts Saudi Arabia, will complete the cast of 16 teams for the seventh edition of the AFC U23 Asian Cup, which will take place in January 2026.

https://x.com/IndianFootball/status/1928007708869021881

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.

India had earlier appointed Naushad Moosa as the head coach of their U23 national team. Moosa takes charge of the U23s on June 1, when the Blue Colts assemble in Kolkata for a training camp, before flying off to Tajikistan to play two exposure friendly matches against Tajikistan (June 18) and the Kyrgyz Republic (June 21).

The India U23s will utilise all the FIFA International windows to set camp and play exposure friendlies to prepare for the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers.

AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers Draw Result:

Group A: Jordan (H), Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei, Bhutan

Group B: Japan, Kuwait, Myanmar (H), Afghanistan

Group C: Vietnam (H), Yemen, Singapore, Bangladesh

Group D: Australia, China (H), Timor-Leste, Northern Mariana Islands

Group E: Uzbekistan, Palestine, Kyrgyz Republic (H), Sri Lanka

Group F: Thailand (H), Malaysia, Lebanon, Mongolia

Group G: Iraq, Cambodia (H), Oman, Pakistan

Group H: Qatar (H), Bahrain, India, Brunei Darussalam

Group I: United Arab Emirates (H), Iran, Hong Kong China, Guam

Group J: Korea Republic, Indonesia (H), Laos, Macau

Group K: Tajikistan, Syria, Philippines, Nepal.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Tough group for our boys! Qatar is a strong team but Bahrain and Brunei are beatable. Hope Moosa sir can prepare the team well with the exposure matches. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳⚽
P
Priya M.
Exciting to see India playing against Gulf nations! The Qatar match will be a real test of our progress. Hope the boys get good training facilities unlike some previous camps we've heard about.
A
Arjun S.
Why are we always in Pot 3? Need to invest more in youth development if we want to compete with Asian powerhouses. At least the Tajikistan friendlies will help - their football is improving fast.
S
Sunita R.
Good to see AIFF planning proper preparation with international friendlies. But Qatar's summer heat in September will be brutal - hope they arrange proper acclimatization. Our boys need all the support they can get!
V
Vikram J.
Interesting to see all our SAARC neighbors in different groups - Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan. Would have been nice to play at least one regional rival. But maybe better to face new opponents!
M
Meena P.
The Brunei match is must-win if we want to qualify as best runners-up. Their population is less than many Indian cities! 😄 But in football, anything can happen. All the best Blue Colts!

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