India sealed their spot in the AFC Under-17 Asian Cup 2026 after they beat Iran 2-1 at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad on Sunday evening.
It was a sensational win for Bibiano Fernandes' boys as they trailed for the bulk of the first half after conceding early in the 19th minute when Iran's Amirreza Valipoor drew first blood.
The Blue Colts' perseverance finally paid off in stoppage time of the first half when skipper Dallalmuon Gangte found the equaliser from the spot.
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It was a morale-boosting strike for India before the two teams headed towards the tunnel. They started the second half with a spring in their step and, within seven minutes, took the lead when Gunleiba Wangheirakpam’s shot took a fortuitous deflection and went into the net after a defensive mistake from defender Amirmahan Afrooziani.
The stakes were high for the Indian team as it was a must-win encounter to qualify for the continental tournament that is set to be held in Saudi Arabia next year, whereas Iran could have got through even if the spoils were shared. Both teams ended with seven points; however, India finished first with a better head-to-head record.
AllSportsPeople looks at the journey of the Indian team in the AFC U-17 2026 Asian Cup qualifiers.
How did India qualify for the AFC U17 2026 Asia Cup?
India found themselves drawn in Group D along with several West Asian heavyweights, including Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, and Chinese Taipei. They were the hosts for all group stage matches.
They started their journey with a 1-1 draw against Palestine on November 22. Although they took the lead early in the second half, the visitors clawed back into the game in the 74th minute with a leveller from Jomah.
In their second match, against Chinese Taipei, Bibiano's boys registered a 3-1 victory. After falling behind in the fourth minute, a hat-trick from Gangte led India's charge.
The Blue Colts suffered their only defeat in the qualifying stages to Lebanon after they went down 2-0, with Antoine Assaf and Paul Maakaroun finding the net. Hence, the final group-stage match against Iran was a do-or-die for the team. After a 2-1 win, India finished as group toppers with seven points from four matches.
How have India fared in the AFC U17 Asian Cup over the years?
The AFC U17 Asian Cup was founded in 1985. However, India's inaugural participation in the tournament arrived five years later in 1990. They were ousted from the group stages as they finished third in a four-team group.
Since then, India have participated in nine more editions, with their last appearance coming in 2023. Their best finish remains when they advanced to the last eight in 2002 and 2018.
| Year | Result | Position |
| 1990 | Group Stage | 5th |
| 1996 | Group Stage | 9th |
| 2002 | Quarterfinals | 6th |
| 2004 | Group Stage | 10th |
| 2008 | Group Stage | 12th |
| 2012 | Group Stage | 13th |
| 2016 | Group Stage | 13th |
| 2018 | Quarterfinals | 7th |
| 2023 | Group Stage | 12th |
| 2026 | Qualified | TBD |
When is the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup?
The 21st edition of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup will commence on May 7 2026, with the final set to take place on May 24.
All 16 teams that are set to participate in the main event have been confirmed. They are as follows:
- Saudi Arabia (Hosts)
- Indonesia
- Japan
- North Korea
- Qatar
- South Korea
- Tajikistan
- UAE
- Uzbekistan
- China
- Yemen
- Vietnam
- India
- Australia
- Thailand
- Myanmar