The Indian football team failed to qualify for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup after it suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat at the hands of heavyweights South Korea in an AFC U-16 Championship quarterfinal match here on Monday. The Indians, playing in their first quarterfinals of the tournament in 16 years, gave a gritty fight but the Koreans were too good for them.

The Koreans, one of the title contenders, dominated most part of the match though they could score just one goal through Jeong Sangbin in the 67th minute. The four semifinalists from the AFC U-16 Championship qualify for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup to be held in Peru. India had taken part in the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup by virtue of being the host team. Despite Monday's loss, the Indians will return with their heads held high as they lost to a much superior team.