India U20 Football Team Intensifies Preparations for AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers in Bengaluru

The Indian U20 men's national squad continues its intensive build-up for the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 qualifiers, with the ongoing training camp in Bengaluru serving as the central hub.

The selection process began on June 11, 2026, through open trials held at The Sports School and the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence. More than 100 aspiring talents from different regions of the country took part in these evaluations.

After careful screening, head coach Mahesh Gawli - a former Indian international defender in his second stint with the U20 side and current assistant to the senior national team - has narrowed the group down to 26 players who are now undergoing regular training sessions.

Fifteen members of the broader squad have been granted short-term release to join their respective clubs for the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) exposure trip to Japan. This group features eight from Punjab FC, six from Bengaluru FC, and one from FC Goa. The top three RFDL sides are competing against strong Japanese youth academies in Fukuoka during mid-July, an important opportunity for tactical growth and international exposure. These players are scheduled to rejoin the national camp upon their return next week.

Additional assessment phases will follow to determine the final preliminary roster for the qualifiers. India has been drawn into a competitive Group B alongside hosts Uzbekistan, Syria, and Bangladesh. The matches will unfold in a centralized single round-robin format in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from late August to early September 2026. India, seeded in Pot 3 and ranked 20th in the qualification phase, will open against Syria, followed by clashes with Uzbekistan and Bangladesh.

This campaign carries added significance as India seeks to return to the AFC U20 Asian Cup finals for the first time since hosting the event in 2006. Their strongest showing remains a shared title with Iran in 1974, while they came agonisingly close in the 2025 edition, missing out on goal difference.