The Indian men’s U-23 football team will begin their AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers campaign with a crucial Group H opener against Bahrain on Wednesday, September 4, at the Suheim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. Kick-off is scheduled for 8:45 PM IST.
Led by head coach Naushad Moosa, the Blue Colts are on a mission to make history by qualifying for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup for the first time. Despite six previous attempts, India have never progressed beyond the qualifiers. But with a determined squad and months of preparation behind them, the team hopes to change that narrative in Qatar.
Group H consists of four teams: lSpeaking at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday, head coach Moosa emphasised the importance of respecting every opponent while acknowledging the challenge ahead.
“I don’t think any team is ‘big’. It’s important to respect every opponent,” said Moosa. “As far as Bahrain are concerned, we have watched two or three of their matches to prepare. We know Qatar are a very strong side. They play tomorrow, so I’ll get some analysis from that game.”
India’s road to the qualifiers has included rigorous preparation. In June, the team travelled to Tajikistan, where they played two friendlies—suffering a 2-3 defeat to the hosts and drawing 0-0 with the Kyrgyz Republic.
A 20-day training camp followed in August at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru. Later, the squad moved to Malaysia to play two closed-door games against Iraq, both of which ended in losses (1-2 and 1-3).
Team captain and centre-back Bikash Yumnam expressed confidence in the squad’s readiness.
“The first match is very important to build confidence and get points,” he said. “We’ve been preparing for the last three weeks, and now the boys are ready for the Qualifiers. Every day, we give 100 per cent, and we’re really looking forward to making a mark here.”
India’s opening fixture against Bahrain is a pivotal one, not just for tournament momentum but also for building belief. A strong result in the first match could provide the launchpad the Blue Colts need to finally break through into the AFC U-23 Asian Cup finals.
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