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The India Under-23 men’s team will kick-off their preparations for the U-23 AFC Championship qualifiers with a camp in Goa on March 2.
The India U-23s have never qualified for the U-23 AFC Championships, which will see 44 teams in the qualifiers. These teams are divided into two zones – West Zone (Groups A-F) and East Zone (Groups G-K) with 24 and 20 teams, respectively.
Eleven group winners and four best runners-up qualify for the final tournament. If the final tournament hosts Thailand win their group or are among the four best runners-up, the fifth best runner-up also qualifies for the final tournament.
India is in Group F, along with Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan. While India is placed at 18, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan are placed at 12, 21 and 45, respectively, in the latest AFC ranking.
The qualifiers will be played from March 22-26. India will play Tajikistan on March 22, host Uzbekistan on March 24 and Pakistan on March 26. Before the start of qualifying matches, India will play a friendly against Qatar U-23s on March 11 in Doha.
