India coach Mahesh Gawali: “We have prepared well” ahead of AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers
The India U-20 men’s team will open their AFC U-20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers campaign against Syria at Do’stlik Stadium in Tashkent on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 16:30 IST. “The first match is always important, especially in a qualifying competition. We have prepared well, and the players are focused. Our approach is to take it one game at a time, stay disciplined and give our best on the pitch. We know what we want to do, and now it is about executing our plans well,” said Mahesh Gawali.
India have been drawn in Group B with hosts Uzbekistan, Syria and Bangladesh and enter the qualifiers aiming to return to the AFC U-20 Asian Cup for the first time since 2006. The Blue Colts shared the competition title with Iran in 1974 but have not qualified in the past two decades. Only the group winners and the seven best runners-up across all eight groups will advance to the final tournament, making each group match critical.
India narrowly missed out on qualification in the previous cycle, failing to progress as one of the best runners-up on goal difference in the 2025 qualifiers. Defender Malemngamba Singh Thokchom (born 2007) is the sole member of that 2025 squad included in the current group. Trials for this campaign began in June and were followed by a continuous camp designed to allow the coaching staff extended time to assess players and work on the team’s tactical approach.
The Blue Colts played four international friendlies in August as part of their preparation, recording two wins over Singapore (3-0 and 1-0), a 0-0 draw with Yemen and a 1-0 victory in the second match against Yemen. “The friendly matches were useful for us because we were able to assess the team, understand where we can improve and give players the opportunity to play together. The main objective was to be better prepared for the qualifiers, and I feel the games have helped us in that process,” said Gawali.
India arrived in Tashkent on August 27 and have held training sessions on August 28 and 29, with a final session scheduled for Sunday evening ahead of the opener. Afternoons in Tashkent have been hot and sunny while temperatures become considerably more comfortable after sunset, and the coaching staff have used the intervening days to acclimatise the squad.
India’s opening opponents, Syria, are coached by Netherlands’ Arno Buitenweg and have met India only twice previously in competitive youth-level encounters: a 1-0 defeat in 1996 and a 2-1 loss in 2004. Syria won the AFC U-19 Championship in 1994 and have been regular participants at this level, qualifying for the last two AFC U-20 Asian Cups. “Syria are a good team with experience at this level, and we respect them. We have studied them and have an idea of what to expect, but our main focus will be on our own game. We need to be organised, especially without the ball, and make the most of our opportunities when they come. It will be a competitive match, and we have to stay focused for the full 90 minutes,” said Mahesh Gawali.
India U20 will face Syria on Monday, August 31, 2026, with kick-off at 4:30 PM IST. The Blue Colts contest Group B alongside Syria, Uzbekistan and Bangladesh.