India’s U17 men’s team faced a 0-3 defeat against Uzbekistan, ending their campaign in the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026. Despite a cautious approach, India struggled to match the defending champions’ dominance in possession. The Indian defense, led by goalkeeper Rajrup Sarkar, held firm initially but eventually conceded a penalty in the 32nd minute.
In a bid to stay competitive after a heavy loss to Australia, India’s Blue Colts fought hard but failed to find the net. Uzbekistan capitalized on a defensive error to take the lead through a penalty. Despite some close chances, India couldn’t equalize before halftime. The second half saw India pushing forward, but Uzbekistan’s strong attack led to two more goals, sealing their victory.
The defeat marked the end of India’s hopes for a maiden qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup, highlighting the team’s near miss in the tournament.
