The Indian men’s U23 football team will take on hosts Qatar in a decisive Group H encounter of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium on Saturday. The match holds significant importance as India aims to secure a historic first-ever qualification for the prestigious continental tournament.

India opened their campaign with a confident 2-0 win over Bahrain, a result that has injected momentum and belief into the squad. Head coach Naushad Moosa expressed satisfaction with the start, saying, “t`s always a good thing to start with a win and get those three points. That win gave us a lot of hope and belief that if we do well against Qatar, we`ll have the chance to qualify. It`s very important we go forward with a winning mentality.”

Qualification to the final tournament in Saudi Arabia hinges on topping the group, with only the 11 group winners earning direct passage. An additional four best second-placed teams will also qualify, making every point critical.