India U17 beat UAE 4-1, head to AFC Asian Cup qualifiers

India's under-17 men's football team beat the United Arab Emirates 4-1 in a friendly at the Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Stadium in Ras Al Khaimah on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, giving head coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo his first win in charge. According to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Kamgouhao Doungel and Md Sahir Ali scored to give India a 2-0 lead at half-time, and Hrishikesh Manavathi and Ristik Maity added two more after the break. The two sides had drawn 0-0 in the first friendly on Sunday, 1 November. The team, known as the Blue Colts, now travels to Kuala Lumpur for the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, where it opens against Singapore on Wednesday, 11 November.

Youth tournaments are where Indian football builds its next generation. Players who do well at under-17 level often move into Indian Super League academies and senior clubs, and some go on to represent the national team. Qualifying for the continental under-17 championship gives a group of 16- and 17-year-olds the chance to play the best teams in Asia, which is experience that cannot be found at home.

The two friendlies in the UAE were the team's final preparation. A goalless draw in the first match showed a solid defence, and the 4-1 win in the second showed the team can score. Four different players found the net, which suggests goals can come from several positions rather than relying on one striker. For Wadoo, the first win in charge is a confidence boost before matches that count.

The qualifying group will be a tougher test than the friendlies. Malaysia have home advantage in Kuala Lumpur. India play Palestine and then the hosts in their last two matches, so results in the first two games against Singapore and Guam could decide how much pressure the team carries into the final week.

For young fans, these matches are a chance to follow a group of teenagers who could form the core of future India teams, and to see how the national youth set-up measures up against Asian opponents.

Peepals timeline: India's U17 squad drew 0-0 with the UAE on Sunday, 1 November 2026, at the Emirates Football Club Stadium, then beat them 4-1 on Wednesday, 4 November, in Ras Al Khaimah. The team moves to Kuala Lumpur for Group E of the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, playing Singapore on 11 November, Guam on 14 November, Palestine on 17 November and Malaysia on 20 November.

Short-term: The squad goes into the qualifiers with a win and a clean sheet from its two warm-up matches, and with four different scorers.

Long-term: Qualifying for the AFC U17 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan would give these players top-level international experience at a key stage of their development and help Indian football's youth pathway.

Who is affected: The India U17 players and coaching staff, the AIFF, Indian Super League academies that develop youth players, and fans following the next generation of Indian footballers.

What to watch next: India's first qualifier against Singapore in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, 11 November 2026.

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