India’s path to AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2026: How the Blue Colts booked their ticket to Saudi Arabia

It is a time when domestic football in India is in turmoil, with the future of the top flight (Indian Super League) in uncertainty. The senior national football team has failed to raise any hopes after failing to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

At a time like this, it is the young players who give Indian football a reason to celebrate. The Indian under-17 team secured a direct ticket to the 2026 Asian Cup after a 2-1 win against Iran at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

In the next article, Sports stars follows the Blue Colts’ journey to continental competition.

Placed in Group D, India were paired with Iran, Lebanon, Palestine and Chinese Taipei in the battle for qualification.

Palestine vs India

India opened its qualifying campaign against Palestine in Ahmedabad. Bibiano Fernandes’ boys started strongly with midfield supremacy through Dallalmuon Gangte, Diamond Singh Thokchom and Denny Singh Wangkhem, while wingers Azlaan Shah Kh and Gunleiba Wangkheirakpam looked to expand the Palestinian backline.

His efforts paid off as India took the lead just before half-time, through a set piece after Azlaan Shah’s corner caused panic in the Palestinian penalty area, and defender Shubham Poonia reacted instinctively, guiding the ball into the bottom corner of the post to make it 1–0.

However, the home side could not repeat their dominance in the second half, and in the 73rd minute a moment of individual brilliance from substitute Amir Jomah gave Palestine the equalizer.

Despite late raids from India in the final third, the country could not find the winner and began its qualifying journey, sharing points with Palestine.

India vs Chinese Taipei

A draw in the opening qualifying meant India needed a strong performance to get back into the race, and the Blue Colts did just that against Chinese Taipei, winning the match 3-1. Dallalmuon Gangte put in a captain’s performance and scored a hat-trick to secure the full points quota for his team.

However, the start was not ideal for India as they conceded in the fourth minute after sloppy defending allowed Yang Hao-hei to steer the ball past India goalkeeper Rajrup Sarkar.

But the Blue Colts stuck to the game plan and slowly started to find their rhythm. They added meaningful spells of possession together and began to expand Chinese Taipei’s backline through their pacey wingers.

India’s perseverance was rewarded in the 32nd minute when Gangte converted Gunleiba Wangkheirakpam’s cross with a first-time finish to level the score.

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The second half was entirely in the hands of India, who dominated all departments on the field. Gangte got his brace in the 77th minute with a precise finish into the bottom corner from the edge of Chinese Taipei’s penalty area.

Two minutes later, Gangte completed his hat-trick with a fierce shot from outside the box that sealed three points for India. The win moved India up to second place in the group with four points, level with group leader Iran

India vs Lebanon

After a solid performance against Chinese Taipei, India was expected to continue the momentum and get a positive result against Lebanon, who came into the match on the back of a 1-1 draw against Iran.

However, contrary to expectations, India lost 0-2 – their first defeat in the qualifiers.

Antoine Assaf (26th minute) and Paul Maakaroun (38th) scored for Lebanon, and the Blue Colts look completely out of place, leaving big holes in their backline.

Wangkheirakpamn came closest to scoring for India in the 27th minute when he broke through on goal from midfield, but Lebanon goalkeeper Jason Finianos saved his shot to preserve the clean sheet.

The loss meant that India (by four points) would have to win their final qualifying match against group leaders Iran (seven points), for which anything less than a loss would guarantee direct qualification.

India vs Iran

A do-or-die situation against mighty Iran. India needed a win. Iran only needed a draw.

Going into the final qualifier on the back of a defeat, not much blame could have been placed on India’s young players if they had been bogged down by nerves.

But the EKA Arena witnessed a special night as the Blue Colts exceeded expectations to beat Iran 2-1 to punch their ticket to the 2026 U-17 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. Level with Iran (7), Bibiano Fernandes’ men advanced thanks to a better head-to-head record.

If conditions were tense before the match, they increased tenfold after Iran scored the opening goal of the match through Amirezza Valipoor in the 19th minute. That meant India had to score at least two without conceding.

India were given a lifeline just before half-time after Iran were awarded a penalty after Heranganba Seram was brought down in the box. Captain Gangte took responsibility, stepped up to the ball and converted his penalty with impeccable precision.

After grabbing the equalizer just before half-time, India started the second half with renewed vigor and did not have to wait long to take the lead.

In the 52nd minute, Iranian defender Amirmahan Afrooziani failed to clear a looping ball, and Wangkheirakpam, unmarked and unhurried, capitalized with a strong finish past goalkeeper Bardiya Dorri for the telling goal.

Iran did not sit back and continued to surge forward in the final third, putting pressure on the Blue Colts’ backline, but the home side remained resilient to maintain their slim lead and qualify for the U-17 AFC Asian Cup for the 10th time.

India’s star in the qualifiers

Dalalmuon Gangte

Indian captain Dallalmuon Gangte is undoubtedly India’s standout player in the qualifiers for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2026. With four goals in the same number of matches, it was his hat-trick that enabled India to bounce back with a win after starting the qualifying race with a draw.

In the final qualifier against Iran, it was Gangte who soaked up all the pressure and scored the penalty to bring India back on level terms.

The 15-year-old, born on July 11, 2010, is currently associated with NorthEast United FC at club level.

Published on December 1, 2025