Mehrajuddin Wadoo Names 23-Member India Squad for AFC U17 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers

India U17 men's national team head coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo has announced a 23-member squad for the upcoming AFC U17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027 Qualifiers, scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from November 11 to 20, 2026. 

The Blue Colts will be aiming to secure qualification for a second consecutive edition of the continental tournament as they prepare for a challenging group-stage campaign.

India have been placed in Group E alongside hosts Malaysia, Palestine, Singapore and Guam. With only the group winners progressing to the final tournament, the Indian side will have little room for error across its four qualifying fixtures.

The final tournament will be held in Uzbekistan from May 12 to 29, 2027, and Wadoo's immediate objective will be to guide his young squad through the qualifying stage and secure India's place among Asia's leading youth teams.

India will begin their Group E campaign against Singapore on November 11 before taking on Guam three days later. The team will then face Palestine on November 17, with their final group fixture against hosts Malaysia scheduled for November 20.

The encounter against Malaysia could prove particularly important, with the hosts expected to enjoy home support at the MP Selayang Stadium in Selayang. However, India's immediate priority will be to begin the campaign positively and collect maximum points from their opening fixtures.

The qualification format makes consistency crucial. Unlike tournaments where multiple teams from a group can progress, only the five group winners will secure qualification for the 2027 edition from the qualifying stage. This places considerable importance on every result, particularly against teams competing for the same qualification position.

Wadoo has selected three goalkeepers, seven defenders, six midfielders and seven forwards for the campaign. The goalkeeping department comprises Arnav Pandhare, Maroof Shafi and Newtan Irengbam, while the defensive unit includes Jinesh Thoudam, Lawmsangzuala, Leo Thongbam, Malem Laishram, Malsawmtluanga, Sailex Oinam, Maldino Singh Yumnam and Zoramdinthara.

In midfield, India will have Dallalmuon Gangte, Henthoiba Keisam, David Mangang Irom, Mukundo Singh Ningthoujam, R Lawmsangzuala and Thiyam Sambay. The attacking responsibilities will be shared by Hrishikesh Charan Manavathi, Kamgouhao Doungel, Md Sahir Ali, Raj Singh Wahengbam, Ristik Maity and Felix Meitei Saikhom.

The squad will now enter the final phase of preparations before travelling to Malaysia for the qualifiers.

UAE friendlies to provide final preparation

Before beginning their qualification campaign, India will play two international friendly matches against the United Arab Emirates in Ras Al Khaimah on November 1 and 4. Both matches will be played at 8:30 PM IST, with the first encounter scheduled at Emirates Football Club Stadium and the second at Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Stadium.

These fixtures will provide Wadoo with an opportunity to assess his squad against international opposition, work on tactical combinations and give players valuable match exposure before the competitive campaign begins. The Blue Colts have already completed two friendly matches against Myanmar earlier this month in Thanlyin. India drew the opening encounter 1-1 before producing a convincing response with a 4-0 victory in the second match.

The results offered the coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate the team's progress and identify areas requiring improvement. Following the Myanmar tour, the squad continued its preparatory camp in Goa before travelling to the UAE on October 30. After completing the second friendly against the UAE, India will head directly to Kuala Lumpur on November 5.

The relatively short gap between the friendly matches and the opening qualifier means that managing player fitness and ensuring tactical readiness will be important aspects of the preparation.

The upcoming qualifiers represent an important opportunity for India's next generation of footballers to establish themselves at the continental level. Qualifying for back-to-back AFC U17 Asian Cups would be a significant achievement for the programme and provide the players with another platform to compete against some of Asia's strongest youth teams.

However, the group presents a demanding challenge. Malaysia will have the advantage of playing at home, while Singapore, Palestine and Guam will also be targeting the only available qualification position.

For Wadoo, building a balanced team capable of handling different styles of opposition will be central to India's campaign. The two UAE friendlies will be particularly important in sharpening the team's preparations before the points begin to matter.

With the squad now confirmed and the preparation schedule in place, attention will turn towards the November 11 opener against Singapore.

The Blue Colts have a clear objective: navigate Group E, finish at the top and secure a place at the AFC U17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027. Four matches stand between India and that target, and the campaign will demand consistency, discipline and composure from the young squad.