The Indian U23 men’s football team is gearing up for an exciting trip to Jakarta, where they’ll face off against Indonesia’s U23 side in two friendly matches on October 10 and 13, 2025. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced the schedule, giving these young players a chance to build momentum during the October FIFA International Match Window.
Under head coach Naushad Moosa, the Blue Colts are bouncing back quickly—just a month after a heartbreaking miss on qualifying for the AFC U23 Asian Cup. They finished fifth among the best second-placed teams from the qualifiers, despite strong wins over Bahrain and Brunei Darussalam. Only the top four advanced, leaving India just short of a historic spot.
Indonesia shares a similar story, having bowed out after a 0-1 loss to South Korea in their final qualifier. They ended up as the 10th-best runner-up across 11 groups. Both teams will clash at the iconic Gelora Bung Karno Madya Stadium in Jakarta, making for some intense Southeast Asian football action.
This season, India’s U23 squad has already notched four friendly games to sharpen their skills. In June, they traveled to Tajikistan to take on the hosts and the Kyrgyz Republic. Then in August, they headed to Malaysia for two matches against Iraq, keeping the team match-fit and ready for more.
Switching gears to the younger stars, India’s U17 men’s national team just clinched their seventh SAFF U17 Championship title in dramatic fashion last month. On September 27, 2025, at Colombo’s Racecourse International Stadium, they outlasted Bangladesh in a nail-biting final, winning 4-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
India jumped ahead early with goals from Dallamuon Gangte in the 4th minute and Azlaan Shah KH in the 38th, leading 2-1 at halftime. But Bangladesh fought back hard, tying it up with a late equalizer from Ihsan Habib Riduan. In the shootout, the Blue Colts stayed cool under pressure, securing the victory and sparking celebrations across Indian football fans.
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