India U17 football team to play two UAE friendlies ahead of AFC qualifiers
Synopsis
India's U17 men's football team heads to Ras Al Khaimah for back-to-back friendlies against the UAE on November 1 and 4 — the final competitive test before the AFC U17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027 Qualifiers in Malaysia, where India face Singapore, Guam, Palestine, and hosts Malaysia across nine days.
Key Takeaways
India U17 face the UAE in friendlies on 1 November and 4 November in Ras Al Khaimah , both kicking off at 8:30 PM IST .
The squad departs on 30 October after a camp in Margao, Goa , and flies directly to Kuala Lumpur on 5 November .
India's AFC U17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027 Qualifiers run from 11 to 20 November in Malaysia, with fixtures against Singapore, Guam, Palestine , and Malaysia .
Coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo recorded his first win in charge with a 4-0 victory over Myanmar on 7 October .
Goalscorers against Myanmar: Dallalmoun Gangte , own goal by Kyi Thar , Kamgouhao Doungel , and Hrishikesh Charan Manavathi .
The India U17 men's football team will face the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in two international friendly matches on 1 November and 4 November in Ras Al Khaimah, as they step up preparations for the AFC U17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027 Qualifiers. Both fixtures will kick off at 8:30 PM IST, offering coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo a final tune-up block before the continental stage.
Fixture Details and Travel Plan
The first friendly is scheduled at the Emirates Football Club Stadium on 1 November, while the second takes place at the Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Stadium on 4 November. The squad departs for the UAE on 30 October, having wrapped up a preparatory camp in Margao, Goa. On 5 November, the team will fly directly from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the host city for the qualifiers running from 11 to 20 November.
Recent Form: Lessons from Myanmar
India entered this preparation window on the back of mixed results against Myanmar in Thanlyin — a 1-1 draw in the first game, followed by a commanding 4-0 victory on 7 October. Captain Dallalmoun Gangte opened the scoring in the 40th minute of the second fixture, before an own goal by Kyi Thar doubled the lead in the 53rd minute. Kamgouhao Doungel added a third in the 60th minute, and Hrishikesh Charan Manavathi completed the win in the 72nd minute. The result marked Wadoo's first victory as head coach of the side.
Qualifier Group Stage Fixtures
India begin their qualifying campaign against Singapore on 11 November, before facing Guam on 14 November. They then take on Palestine on 17 November, with the group concluding against hosts Malaysia on 20 November. A strong showing across all four matches will be crucial if India are to secure a berth in the full continental tournament in Uzbekistan in 2027.
What the UAE Friendlies Offer
Facing the UAE provides India with high-quality Gulf opposition at pace and intensity levels closer to competitive qualifiers. This comes amid a broader push by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to give the U17 programme meaningful international exposure before high-stakes fixtures. Notably, these two matches form part of a concentrated preparation window — Myanmar, UAE, and then straight to Malaysia — underlining the structured build-up under Wadoo's stewardship. How India performs in Ras Al Khaimah will be a strong indicator of their readiness for the qualifier group stage.
Point of View
A competitive Gulf side, tests the squad closer to qualifier intensity. The compressed timeline — camp in Goa, UAE, then straight to Malaysia — leaves little room for error in player conditioning or tactical adjustments. Wadoo's first win came with a healthy goal margin, but one draw and one win against Myanmar is modest form ahead of a group that includes a motivated host nation in Malaysia. The real measure of this U17 cycle is not friendly results but whether AIFF's sustained calendar-building translates into a qualification place for Uzbekistan 2027.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where will India U17 play the UAE friendlies?
India U17 will face the UAE on 1 November at the Emirates Football Club Stadium and on 4 November at the Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Stadium, both in Ras Al Khaimah, with kick-off at 8:30 PM IST for both matches.
What is the AFC U17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027 Qualifiers schedule for India?
India begin their qualifying campaign against Singapore on 11 November in Kuala Lumpur, followed by matches against Guam on 14 November, Palestine on 17 November, and Malaysia on 20 November.
Who is coaching the India U17 men's football team?
Mehrajuddin Wadoo is the head coach of the India U17 men's team. He recorded his first win in charge during the 4-0 victory over Myanmar on 7 October.
How did India perform against Myanmar ahead of the UAE friendlies?
India drew the first game 1-1 before winning the second 4-0 on 7 October in Thanlyin. Captain Dallalmoun Gangte, Kamgouhao Doungel, and Hrishikesh Charan Manavathi were among the scorers.
Why are the UAE friendlies important for India U17?
The two matches in Ras Al Khaimah serve as India's final competitive preparation before the AFC U17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027 Qualifiers, providing high-quality opposition to fine-tune tactics and combinations ahead of the group stage in Malaysia.
