Excitement builds in Indian football circles as the U-17 men’s team prepares to take on Myanmar in two friendlies slated for March 3 and 5 in Yangon. These encounters are linchpins in the roadmap to the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026, blending competition with critical preparation.
The Blue Colts, coached by Bibiano Fernandes, enter with momentum from four prior internationals this year—paired games versus Tajikistan in Goa and Turkey in Antalya. Training hasn’t skipped a beat in Goa post-Turkey. The AIFF stated the team flies out February 28, teeing up intense battles.
Myanmar mirrors India’s qualifier success, topping Group C against Oman, Syria, Afghanistan, Nepal. Group D pits India against Australia (May 6), Uzbekistan (May 10), Korea (May 13) in a 16-team spectacle near Jeddah. Advancement to quarters—and FIFA U-17 World Cup slots—rewards group frontrunners.
Qatar’s automatic World Cup entry spices things up: quarterfinal success there elevates the best third-placer. Group A: Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Myanmar. Group B: Japan, Indonesia, China, Qatar. The 21st AFC U-17 Championship, an AFC staple for Asia’s U-17 elites, spotlights emerging talents.
India’s entry signals robust youth pipelines. These Myanmar friendlies offer real-game simulations, tactical tweaks, and confidence boosts, positioning the squad to dazzle in Saudi Arabia and chase global ambitions.