The India Under-23 men’s national team fell 1-3 to Iraq in their second closed-doors friendly at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Malaysia on Thursday.
The Blue Colts performed well in the first half, leading 1-0 at halftime. However, Iraq surged back in the second half, scoring three goals to claim victory.
Iraq had previously won the first friendly 2-1.
The India U-23 team will prepare for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Doha, facing Bahrain on September 3, host Qatar on September 6, and Brunei Darussalam on September 9.
The team is still seeking to qualify for the continental tournament and must finish at the top of their group to earn a direct spot. If they don’t secure the top position, they will aim to be one of the four best second-placed teams to advance.
Published on Aug 28, 2025