India are placed with UAE, Maldives and China in Group G of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 Qualifiers. The matches of the qualifiers will be held in September 2023. China are the host of this group. 43 of the 47 AFC member associations expressed their interest in the qualifiers including Qatar who qualified automatically as hosts and their matches will serve as friendlies. A total of 16 teams qualify for the tournament with the hosts. 11 group winners and four best runners-up will participate in the competition final in April 2024.
The AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 will be the competition's sixth edition. It will also serve as a qualifier for the Men's Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024. The top three teams will directly qualify for the Olympic Games as the AFC representatives. The fourth-best team will compete in the play-off between the Asian Football Federation (AFC) and the team from the African football federation (CAF).
Group G
UAE
India
Maldives
China
India have never been into the finals of the AFC U23 Asian Cup but got close for the previous edition held in 2022. Managed by the senior national team head coach Igor Stimac, the U-23 side will have a tough challenge again against UAE, Maldives and China. Unless Maldives springs up a surprise and considering UAE earns the top spot, the battle for second place is very much between India and China.
The young Blue Tigers faced UAE in the previous U23 Asian Cup qualifiers and it ended with a 1-0 defeat that stripped them of the chance to participate in the contest. They meet again in the decider of this time as well. India hopes they accumulate the necessary points from the first two games, the opener against the Maldives and then China, to be among the best runners-up sides so the result in the final game will not be detrimental.
Fixtures
6 September 2023
India vs Maldives
9 September 2023
China vs India
12 September 2023
UAE vs India
