The India U20 men's football team departs for Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Wednesday, 27 August 2025 to compete in the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers, riding the momentum of an unbeaten four-match run and four consecutive clean sheets during their recent international friendlies in Bengaluru. The Blue Colts recorded three wins and a draw across those fixtures, setting the stage for a demanding Group B campaign.

Bengaluru Camp: Results and Momentum

Coached by Mahesh Gawali, India beat Singapore twice — 3-0 and 1-0 — and drew 0-0 with Yemen before defeating the West Asian side 1-0 in the second encounter. The Blue Colts scored five goals while conceding none across all four matches, a defensive record that underlines the team's collective organisation heading into the qualifiers.

Winger Vishal Yadav, who started all four friendlies, described the camp as a productive build-up. 'The camp is going really well so far. We are working together for the Qualifiers and putting in our best effort to be fully prepared for the three games ahead,' he said.

Facing Different Styles of Opposition

The Bengaluru friendlies were designed to expose the squad to varied tactical challenges. Yadav highlighted the value of both sets of fixtures. 'The friendly matches against Singapore and Yemen were very important for us. They gave us a chance to test ourselves against strong opposition, understand where we need to improve and gain confidence. Yemen, in particular, were good both with and without the ball. The matches were challenging both physically and tactically, which helped us prepare better for the upcoming competition,' he said.

Yemen, who offered a noticeably higher standard of opposition than Singapore, pushed India defensively and sharpened the squad's tactical awareness in ways that straightforward wins cannot replicate.

Sumit Sharma Brahmacharimayum on Captaincy and Comeback

Defender Sumit Sharma Brahmacharimayum captained India in both matches against Yemen, returning to the national setup after missing the SAFF U20 Championship earlier this year due to injury. 'It felt like a huge honour and a big responsibility to be the captain of the national team. Being captain in such big games gave me more confidence and extra motivation to lead the team and communicate better with my teammates,' Sumit said.

On his return from injury, Sumit noted how the four friendlies helped him rebuild understanding with his teammates. 'Unfortunately, I was not part of the SAFF U20 Championship because of a minor injury. So, it was good for me to play with these teammates, understand each other better and build a stronger connection so that we can improve together,' he added.

Sumit also credited the team's disciplined defensive approach. 'We stuck to the game plan. We had a plan where the whole team had to attack and defend together. Based on our previous matches, we analysed a few things and made sure we made very limited mistakes at the back. The objective was to defend as a team, and we defended as a team in all four games,' he said.

Group B Schedule in Tashkent

India's Group B campaign opens against Syria on 31 August at 4:30 pm IST. The Blue Colts then face hosts Uzbekistan on 3 September at 7:30 pm IST, before concluding the group stage against Bangladesh on 6 September at 4:30 pm IST.

What Is at Stake

The AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 will feature the group winners and the seven best second-placed teams from across eight qualifying groups. For India, this represents a critical window to reach a continental tournament that carries significant weight for the long-term development of Indian football. Notably, this is among the most competitive U20 qualifying cycles in recent years, with Uzbekistan — a traditionally strong Central Asian football nation — serving as both host and opponent.