Club and academy contributions to India U-17 squad for AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers revealed
India’s U-17 side disclosed the club- and academy-level composition of its 23-man squad for the 2027 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, scheduled from November 4 to 20, 2026. The announcement accompanies a coaching change ahead of the campaign, with Mehrajuddin Wadoo taking charge of the team.
India qualified for the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup after missing the 2025 edition and will contest the 2027 qualifiers in Group E alongside Malaysia, Palestine, Singapore and Guam. None of India’s Group E opponents featured in the previous tournament, a factor cited in assessments that India will be among the favourites on paper and that qualification should be relatively straightforward for the Blue Colts. Wadoo has been named head coach following the departure of Bibiano Fernandes.
Mehrajuddin Wadoo, a former India right-back and ex-Mohammedan SC head coach, was appointed after his spell at Mohammedan SC, where he was credited with making the most of limited resources and young players. He has selected a 23-member squad to travel to Malaysia for the qualifiers.
NorthEast United FC supply the largest single-club contingent with five players, reflecting a club focus on youth since the arrivals of Mandar Tamhane and Naushad Moosa. Two of those players, Gangte and Lawmsangzuala, were members of India’s 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup squad, with Lawmsangzuala having scored 10 goals for the Indian U-17 side. The Highlanders’ contingent also includes Manipur-born striker Felix Meitei Saikhom, who previously represented Maharashtra United Football Academy and an AIFF-backed academy.
Punjab FC contribute three players to the squad; Maroof Shafi was part of the previous qualifying group and all three Punjab players featured in recent friendlies against Myanmar. Bengaluru FC also have three academy graduates in the selection: striker Hrishikesh (full name Hrishikesh Charan Manavathi) and defender Maldino Yumnam, both of whom appeared in several friendlies in 2025 but did not take part in the prior qualifiers or final tournament. Hrishikesh Charan Manavathi won the Golden Boot in the AIFF Junior League 2025-26.
Sudeva Delhi provide three representatives, with midfielder Mukundo Singh the sole Sudeva player who was part of the earlier qualifying campaign under Bibiano Fernandes; Mukundo scored in India’s 4-2 victory against FC Spartak Moscow in 2026. FC Madras have two players in the squad, both former members of the AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy. Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) have two graduates selected, goalkeeper Arnav Pandhare and Ristik Maity.
Minerva Academy supply two players who impressed at the 65th Subroto Cup, while Raj Singh—who made India’s final 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup squad—returns despite a limited impact at that tournament. Sporting Club Delhi’s offseason investment yielded selections including Diamond Singh, who has already made his Indian Super League debut, alongside Irengbam Newtan and Kamgouhao. Classic FA’s sole representative is midfielder David Mangang Irom, who was included in the Myanmar friendlies and retained in Wadoo’s squad.
India will open their qualifying campaign on November 11 against Singapore in Kuala Lumpur, the first of their Group E fixtures in the November 4–20, 2026 window.