India has been placed in Group B, where they will face teams like Mexico, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, and Hungary. All matches will be hosted at the iconic Red Bull Akademie, Salzburg, promising an atmosphere of high energy and intensity.

The action begins on 4th October 2025, with Boom Boom Goa set for four tightly scheduled encounters in a single day. They open their campaign against Uzbekistan at 4:00 PM (IST), followed by a clash with Mexico at 6:25 PM (IST). Later in the evening, they take on Kuwait at 8:17 PM (IST) before rounding off the group stage against Hungary at 9:41 PM (IST).

With back-to-back matches demanding both stamina and sharp focus, the Goan side will need to bring their best to advance from the group. The top teams will progress to the knockout rounds on 5th October, where the competition is expected to produce even more drama.

Carrying the pride of Indian football, Boom Boom Goa will look to bring their flair, resilience, and fighting spirit to the world stage and give it their all as they aim to leave their mark in Salzburg.

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After Udanta Singh Kumam’s 80th-minute goal cancelled out Jameel Al Yahmadi’s 55th-minute opener, it was all down to the dreaded penalty shootout, as the 30 minutes of extra time did not yield any result. Oman defender Ali Al Busaidi was sent off in the 96th minute.

Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rahul Bheke, and Jithin MS scored for India in the penalties, while Anwar Ali’s spot-kick was saved and Udanta missed. Meanwhile, Thani Al Rushaidi, Muhsen Al Ghassani were the only two players to score their spot kicks for Oman. Harib Al Saadi and Ahmed Al Kaabi missed theirs, and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, in dramatic fashion, produced a save off the last kick off the game from Jameel Al Yahmadi.

It was one of those matches where pure statistics would not be able to paint the entire picture. While Oman enjoyed majority of possession, both sides shared nearly equal number of chances. India began on the front foot, launching counter attacks through Vikram Partap Singh and Lallianzuala Chhangte on the wings.

The Blue Tigers’ real chance came in the 16th minute, when a Muhammed Uvais long throw was headed on towards Anwar by Nikhil Prabhu. The defender’s powerful header was saved by Oman goalkeeper Ibrahim Al Mukhaini.

Oman, however, began to grow into the game, and Sandhu was soon called into the action in the 25th minute, when Issam Al Sabhi’s shot from outside the box was palmed away by India’s skipper keeper.

Minutes later, Nasser Al Rawahi was slipped through between the Indian defensive lines, and only had Sandhu to beat. However, his angular shot rolled wide of the goal.

India had a good chance to take the lead just before half-time, when Chhangte found Irfan Yadwad with a low cut-back, but the latter scuffed his shot, which went wide.

Oman started off on the front foot in the second half, and scored within 10 minutes of the restart, when Abdullah Fawaz flicked the ball from inside the box with the outside of his boot towards Al Yahmadi, who tapped it in at the far post.

An even contest ensued after the goal, as India looked for a way back into the match. Blue Tigers head coach Khalid Jamil, with a little over 10 minutes of regulation time left, introduced Udanta and Suresh Singh Wangjam into the fray, and the substitutions immediately made an impact.

Rahul Bheke’s 80th-minute long throw was flicked on towards the far post by the head of Danish Farooq, as Udanta rushed in to produce an instinctive header that bounced into the net. There was a relatively long wait after the goal, as the video assistant referee checked for infringements in the box, but the goal was finally allowed.

Udanta created another opportunity in injury time, playing substitute Manvir Singh (jr) through with an aerial poke, but it was dealt with by the Oman defence as the match went into extra time.

Al Busaidi was given his marching orders after the commencement of extra time, and India now began to gain control of the proceedings with the man advantage. However, chances were few and far between in the additional 30 minutes, and the two sides soon had to line up for the dreaded penalties.

India shot into a 2-0 lead in the shootout after Al Saadi and Al Kaabi missed, but Oman goalkeeper Al Mukhaini’s save off of Anwar’s spot-kick, and Udanta’s miss brought them back into the contest. Sandhu stepped in when it mattered the most, producing a diving save off Al Yahmadi’s effort, to win the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 bronze medal for India.

India: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK, C), Rahul Bheke, Anwar Ali, Nikhil Prabhu (Suresh Singh Wangjam 78’), Lallianzuala Chhangte, Vikram Partap Singh (Jithin MS 46’), Irfan Yadwad (Udanta Singh Kumar 78’), Mahesh Singh Naorem (Manvir Singh jr 64’), Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Muhammed Uvais (Roshan Singh Naorem 64’), Danish Farooq Bhat (Jeakson Singh Thounaojam 116’).

Credits: AIFF Media

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The U-23 boys next play hosts and group favourites Qatar U-23 in their next match on Friday (July 21).

India began on a cautious note and pressed hard in their effort to unsettle the physically superior Syrians. The first chance of the day fell to striker Daniel Lalhlimpuia but the ex-AIFF Academy cadet could not make the most of the opportunity.

Nikhil Poojary on the right flank kept the rival defence busy with his incisive crosses, as the Indian midfield preferred to rotate from one side to the other.

The high point for India came in the 37^th minute when a string of passes found the tireless Germanpreet Singh in the clear but his prompt right-footer rebounded off the post for a corner.

The resultant corner, a long one from Anirudh Thapa was met by Nishu Kumar from the top of the box but it missed by a whisker as both teams headed to the interval locked goalless.

Changing over, striker Manvir Singh came close to scoring the opener but his header landed safely into the Syrian goalkeeper’s gloves.

As the game neared the hour-mark, Indians appeared to lose the plot a bit — skipper Lalruatthara and Nishu Kumar going into the referee’s book for challenges.

Syria went ahead in the 64^th minute — striker Rabie Srour lobbing it over Goalkeeper Vishal Kaith who was caught out of position – central defender Salam Ranjan Singh’s valiant attempt to keep off the lob not being successful.

India’s first substitution came in the 72^nd minute – Hitesh Sharma coming in for Daniel. Head Coach Stephen Constantine followed it up with a double substitution in the 81^st minute – Sarthak Golui and Robinson Singh coming in for Lalruatthara and Anirudh Thapa respectively.

Three minutes later, Nikhil Poojary powered another cross from the right flank but it Hitesh mistimed his leap to find the elusive equaliser.

Syria sealed the fate of the match in the 88^th minute — Fares Arnaout doubling the score for them.

INDIA U-23: Vishal Kaith, Nishu Kumar, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Lalruatthara (C) (Sartha Golui 81′), Salam Ranjan Singh, Germanpreet Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Nandha Kumar, Anirudh Thapa (Robinson Singh 81′), Daniel Lalhlimpuia (Hitesh Sharma 72′), Manvir Singh.

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