Doha |India’s men’s U-23 football team will begin their campaign in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers on Wednesday when they face Bahrain in their opening Group H clash in Doha. Under the guidance of head coach Naushad Moosa, the young Indian side is aiming to qualify for the continental tournament for the very first time.
India has failed to progress beyond the qualifiers in its previous six attempts, making this campaign a crucial opportunity to create history. Group H also includes hosts Qatar and Brunei Darussalam. From the qualifiers, the group winners and the four best runners-up across 11 groups will secure a place in the final tournament to be held in Saudi Arabia in January 2026.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Moosa stressed the importance of respecting every opponent. “I don’t think any team is too big. It’s important to respect all our rivals. We have watched two or three matches of Bahrain to prepare. We also know Qatar are a very strong side, and I’ll analyze their game tomorrow,” Moosa said.
The Indian team has had an extensive build-up to the qualifiers. In June, they played two friendlies in Tajikistan, losing 2-3 against the hosts and holding Kyrgyzstan to a goalless draw. A 20-day training camp was then held in August at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru. Towards the end of August, India traveled to Malaysia for two friendlies against Iraq, losing both 1-2 and 1-3.
Following the Malaysia tour, the squad arrived in Doha on Saturday, four days ahead of their opening match. With temperatures soaring up to 43 degrees Celsius in the Qatari capital, Moosa acknowledged the challenge of adjusting to the hot and humid conditions. “Of course, it’s hot and humid here, but over the last few days we’ve been working hard to adapt. The players are training in the mornings to get used to the conditions. The facilities are excellent, and we are excited to play,” he said.
Moosa also underlined the significance of the tournament for player development. “These matches are very important. The U-23 competitions provide valuable opportunities for young players to grow. For progress at the senior level, our players need more tournaments like this,” he added.
India will look to make a strong start against Bahrain as they chase their long-awaited dream of making it to the AFC U-23 Asian Cup finals.
