India was handed a major boost for its FIFA Under-17 World Cup 2026 qualification hopes after the Democratic Republic of Korea withdrew from the U-17 AFC Asian Cup last week.

Korea DPR, also known as North Korea, was drawn with India, Australia and Uzbekistan in the U-17 Asian Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia between May 5 and 22. Nine teams from the Asian Cup will play in the World Cup, including host Qatar.

However, a late withdrawal from Korea meant only three teams will compete from the group.

How is that a boost for India’s World Cup hopes?

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the U-17 World Cup. As a result, India will now need to finish in the top two from a pool of three teams to qualify for the World Cup.

India has two matches in the group stages:

• India vs Australia
• India vs Uzbekistan

How can India qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup?

Scenario 1: India wins one match and draws/wins the other (4 points or more) — With at least four points, India will qualify.

Scenario 2: India wins one match and loses another (3 points) — If the team India beat also loses its other match, India will qualify.

But if every team wins one match each, the teams will end up with three points each. Then the following criteria will be considered.

• Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
• Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams.
• Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
• If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
• Goal difference in all group matches;
• Goals scored in all group matches;
• Penalty shoot-out if only two teams were tied and they met in the last round of the group.
• Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
• Drawing of lots.

Scenario 3: India draws both matches (2 points) — India will qualify if the third group–stage match ends with anything but a draw.

If Uzbekistan vs Australia ends in a draw, then all three teams end up with the same points. Then the following criteria will be considered.

• Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
• Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams.
• Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
• If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
• Goal difference in all group matches;
• Goals scored in all group matches;
• Penalty shoot-out if only two teams were tied and they met in the last round of the group.
• Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
• Drawing of lots.

Scenario 4: India draws one match and loses the other (1 point) — The other match will have to be a draw, India will need to lose by a narrow margin and must score in its draw. Only then will India stand a chance to qualify.

Has India played in the FIFA U-17 World Cup before?

India has played in the FIFA U-17 World Cup only once in 2017, when it qualified by default as the host. It is yet to qualify for the World Cup on merit.

Published on Apr 28, 2026