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AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers: groups, format and India's path

India is in Group E with Malaysia, Palestine, Singapore and Guam and must win the group to reach Uzbekistan 2027.

By , Editor

· 2 min read

Apex Sports News graphic: AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers: groups, format and India's path
Photo: Apex Sports News graphic

The AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers begin on November 8 across seven countries. Sportstar reported that 34 teams are competing for seven remaining slots, with India placed in Group E.

Key takeaways

  • India is drawn in Group E alongside Malaysia, Palestine, Singapore and Guam.
  • Only the group winner qualifies for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2027 in Uzbekistan.
  • India's opening match against Singapore is at Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium on November 10 at 6:30 PM IST.
  • Khelnow reported that Singapore beat Guam 6-0 and Palestine beat Malaysia 2-0 in earlier Group E fixtures.
  • Soccer Monk reported that Mehrajuddin Wadoo is taking charge of his first competitive assignment as India head coach.

The AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers will kick off across seven countries on November 8, with seven slots remaining for the tournament. Sportstar reported that 34 teams are competing for a place in the competition, which will be played in Uzbekistan next year.

India’s Group E opener

India U17 begin their AFC U-17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027 qualifying campaign against Singapore on Wednesday at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Malaysia, with kick-off scheduled for 6:30 PM IST.

Mehrajuddin Wadoo is set to take charge of his first competitive assignment as head coach of the national side. Only the group winners will secure qualification for the tournament in Uzbekistan next May, leaving India with four crucial fixtures to navigate.

Group E and qualification

Sportstar reported that India is drawn in Group E alongside Malaysia, Palestine, Singapore and Guam. Turkmenistan withdrew from the qualifying tournament, leaving Group F with four teams. Among the five teams in Group E, India are the only side to have featured in the 2026 edition. However, their campaign ended in the group stage following defeats against Australia and Uzbekistan.

Preparation and early results

India enter the qualifiers after an extensive preparation programme under Wadoo. Preparations began in Goa in September, where more than 100 players were assessed during a month-long selection process before the final 23-member squad was announced.

India then travelled to Myanmar in early October for two friendly matches against the hosts. The first encounter ended in a 1-1 draw before the Blue Colts produced a convincing 4-0 victory in the second.

Their preparations continued in the United Arab Emirates earlier this month, where they played two more friendlies against the hosts. India held the UAE to a goalless draw in the first match before securing an impressive 4-1 win in the return fixture.

Group E standings

Singapore opened their campaign on Tuesday with a comprehensive 6-0 victory over Guam. In the other fixture, Palestine defeated hosts Malaysia 2-0. Wadoo has already watched Singapore in action against Guam and acknowledged the challenge they pose. However, he maintained that India’s priority would be to execute their own game plan and play to their strengths rather than focus excessively on the opposition.

What is at stake

India are targeting their second consecutive appearance in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup and an 11th qualification in the tournament’s history. For Wadoo, the Group E campaign also marks the beginning of a new chapter in his football career. Having represented India as a player, he now takes on the responsibility of leading the national team from the touchline. The former India international described the opportunity as an honour.

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