Doha: The AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers for Group H kick off in Doha this Wednesday, September 3rd. The host city will stage the matches until September 9th, featuring the national teams of Qatar, Bahrain, India, and Brunei Darussalam.

Ahead of the tournament’s start, the official pre-qualification press conferences were held on Tuesday morning in the Bustan Hall at the Wyndham Doha Hotel. The events were attended by a host of media outlets and featured the coaches and team captains of all four squads.

Ahead of the kick-off, the head coaches and team captains of the four squads addressed the media on Tuesday morning at the Wyndham Doha Hotel's Bustan Hall. Qatar’s Portuguese coach, Ilídio Vale, spoke of his team's readiness and broader objectives. "I am satisfied with our preparation period, both inside and outside the country. I am confident the team is ready physically and mentally to face all the teams in the upcoming matches," he affirmed. "Our current focus is entirely on qualifying for the 2026 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. We have worked for years to develop players and raise their technical level."

Commenting on the level of competition, Vale acknowledged the challenge. "As I mentioned, we have other three teams all seeking the same objective as we are: qualification. I am confident these teams have prepared fully, and there is no doubt our matches will be very difficult. However, our goal is clear: to win and qualify." He also addressed squad availability, noting, "Yes, there are some injuries – unfortunately – meaning some players will be unavailable. My focus is therefore on the available players who will compete in this tournament, all united by the goal of qualifying."

The four-team group will see its first matches played simultaneously across two stadiums. At the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium, Bahrain and India—each embarking on their seventh qualification attempt—will meet at 6:15 PM. Meanwhile, at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, host Qatar will take on Brunei Darussalam at 8:00 PM.