Uzbekistan 2027 in Sight as India U-17 Begin Asian Cup Qualifiers Against Singapore
The India U-17 men’s football team begin their AFC U-17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027 qualifying campaign on Wednesday, November 11, as they take on Singapore at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Malaysia. The Group E clash will kick off at 6:30 PM IST and will be streamed live on the FAMTV Malaysia YouTube Channel.
Xtratime Webdesk: The India U-17 men’s football team begin their AFC U-17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027 qualifying campaign on Wednesday, November 11, as they take on Singapore at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Malaysia. The Group E clash will kick off at 6:30 PM IST and will be streamed live on the FAMTV Malaysia YouTube Channel.
India are chasing a second successive AFC U-17 Asian Cup appearance and a place in the continental tournament for the 11th time. However, the Blue Colts face a demanding group, with hosts Malaysia, Palestine, Guam and Singapore also competing for the solitary qualification spot. The 2027 edition is scheduled to take place in Uzbekistan from May 12 to 29.
India enter the qualifiers as the only Group E side to have featured in the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup. They were eliminated in the group stage following defeats against Australia and Uzbekistan.
Under newly-appointed head coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo, India have undergone an extensive build-up. A month-long camp in Goa saw more than 100 players assessed before the final 23-member squad was selected.
The team subsequently tested themselves against Myanmar and UAE. India drew 1-1 and then won 4-0 against Myanmar before facing the UAE, where a goalless draw was followed by an impressive 4-1 victory.
Wadoo believes those matches have strengthened the squad’s confidence ahead of the qualifiers. He has also stressed the importance of mental resilience and self-belief, insisting that talent and hard work must be backed by the right mindset at international level.
Singapore, meanwhile, have already made a statement, defeating Guam 6-0 in their opening fixture. Palestine also began with a 2-0 win over Malaysia.
After Singapore, India will face Guam on November 14, Palestine on November 17 and hosts Malaysia on November 20. For Wadoo, this is his first qualifying campaign as India’s head coach, and the objective is clear: guide the young side to Uzbekistan 2027.
