The report says the screening process has been wide, with 60 observers tracking more than 12,000 boys before the pool was narrowed toward a travelling party of 14.
That matters because youth selection is never just about the best player in isolation.
India’s coaches are not simply picking the most talented boys. They appear to be picking the ones most ready to learn quickly, handle pressure and function inside a compact group.
Fernandes is quoted as saying: “Precisamos garantir que os jogadores estejam prontos fisicamente, mas também desenvolver o entendimento tático e deixá-los confortáveis com o formato do torneio. Vamos usar bem o tempo e trabalhar passo a passo.”
That is the key line. Eight-a-side football is not just regular football with fewer players. Spaces open differently, transitions come faster and decision-making is exposed. A player who can hide in an 11-a-side structure often cannot hide here. India’s preparation, by the sound of it, is rightly focused on comfort as much as conditioning.
Fernandes is also quoted as saying: “Eles querem muito aprender e evoluir, e mostraram boa atitude durante todo o período de treinamentos.”
That speaks to the wider issue in Indian youth development. Pathways are improving, scouting appears broader and opportunities seem to be growing, but the real test is whether promising youngsters keep receiving the right coaching after one tournament ends.
For now, the next storyline is simple: which 14 make the final group, and how quickly India U-15 can turn promise into performances once the festival begins in October.