Sport · India Bureau
India seal AFC U20 Asian Cup return after two decades with Bangladesh rout
India qualified for the AFC U20 Asian Cup main tournament for the first time in 20 years following a dominant 3-0 victory over Bangladesh in their final qualifying group match on Sunday. The commanding performance secured the team's place as one of the tournament's seven best runners-up teams.
LSN India ·
India's return to the AFC U20 Asian Cup main tournament marks a significant milestone for Indian youth football, with the national under-20 side last featuring in the competition in 2006. Sunday's comprehensive victory over Bangladesh in the qualifying campaign propelled India to six points from three matches, positioning them second in Group B.
Danny Meitei Laishram got India off to a strong start, opening the scoring in the 25th minute as the team controlled proceedings throughout the encounter. The emphatic three-goal margin demonstrated India's superiority in the qualifying stage and secured their progression as group runners-up.
India's qualification was confirmed after Syria's 0-3 defeat to Uzbekistan in the day's other critical group fixture. Uzbekistan topped Group B with nine points, while Syria finished third with three points from their matches. Bangladesh, who failed to register a victory across all three qualifying matches, were relegated to the Development Phase.
The AFC U20 Asian Cup main tournament will take place in China from March 24 to April 10, 2027, providing Indian youth football with an opportunity to compete on the continental stage after two decades away from the competition.