India At AFC U-17 Men's Asian Cup Squad Announced

India U-17 men’s football team head coach Bibiano Fernandes has officially announced the 23-member squad for the upcoming AFC U-17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026. The tournament will begin on May 5 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and India will enter the competition with hopes of securing a place in the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026.

The Indian team, popularly known as the Blue Colts, has been preparing for the continental tournament through training camps and international friendly matches. Before heading to Saudi Arabia, the squad stayed in Doha, Qatar, where they played two closed-door friendly matches against Qatar. India managed a 1-1 draw in the first game and followed it with a goalless draw in the second match. The coaching staff believes these matches helped the players improve their match fitness and tactical preparation ahead of the tournament.

India have been placed in Group D alongside strong teams like Australia national under-17 football team and Uzbekistan national under-17 football team. Originally, North Korea was also part of the group, but the team later withdrew from the competition, turning the group into a three-team contest. India will begin their campaign against Australia on May 6 before facing Uzbekistan on May 10.

The tournament is extremely important for the Indian side because the top two teams from the group will directly qualify for the quarter-finals. Reaching the quarter-finals will also guarantee qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026. This has increased excitement around the young Indian squad, as the country hopes to qualify for the tournament on merit for the first time.

Coach Bibiano Fernandes is considered one of the most experienced youth football coaches in India. Over the years, he has worked closely with several young players and has helped develop many footballers who later represented India at higher levels. Football experts believe his experience and focus on discipline could play a major role in India’s performance at the Asian tournament.

The selected squad includes players from different parts of the country, showing the growing reach of youth football in India. The goalkeeping department includes Alok Nishad, Manashjyoti Baruah, and Rajrup Sarkar. The defensive unit features players like Abhishek Kumar Mondal, Indra Rana Magar, Korou Meitei Konthoujam, Lawmsangzuala, Lesvin Rebelo, Md Aimaan Bin, and Shubham Poonia.

In midfield, Bibiano Fernandes has selected Dallalmuon Gangte, Denny Singh Wangkhem, Diamond Singh Thokchom, Moosa Ashiq Sofi, and Nitishkumar Meitei Yengkhom. The attacking department includes Adil Aman A, Azlaan Shah Kh, Gunleiba Wangkheirakpam, Heeranganba Seram, Rahan Ahmed, Raj Singh Wahengbam, Washington Singh Ngangom, and Yuvraj Kadam.

India’s recent performances in youth football competitions have shown signs of progress, and fans will now hope that the U-17 side can continue that improvement on the Asian stage. The players are expected to face strong competition from Australia and Uzbekistan, but the Indian camp remains confident about creating a positive impact in the tournament.