Updated: 04 August 2023
Indian Football Team’s Schedule 2023 – Packed Matches After SAAF 2023! India’s national squad has some important key international matches scheduled in preparation for the AFC Asian Cup 2023. They recently secured a great victory against Kuwait in the SAFF Championship 2023.
Firstly, India will be participating in the preliminary qualifying Round 2 of the Asia qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup. This tournament will serve as one of the final exercises for the team ahead of the AFC Asian Cup.
In the lead-up to the AFC Asian Cup, one of the crucial matches for India will be against Australia in January 2024. The tournament itself will take place in Qatar from January 12 to February 10. India has been placed in Group B, where the team will compete against Uzbekistan, Australia, and Syria.
Indian Football Team’s Schedule 2023
Here is the Indian Football Team’s Schedule 2023 after SAAF 2023 –
Asian Games (U-23)
The Asian Games 2022, which were postponed, will take place this year from September 23 to October 8. Unlike previous editions, only U-23 players are eligible to compete, so the entire senior side won’t participate. Nevertheless, India plans to include at least three senior squad members alongside a substantial number of promising young players. This move aims to provide a chance for these budding talents to showcase their skills and make a significant impact during the competition.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers will take place from 16 November onwards. It will be a significant challenge for the Indian football team. The team is in Group A of the draw alongside Kuwait & Qatar. The competition promises to be intense, and the Indian team will need to perform at their best to secure a spot in the World Cup 2026. India has matches on 16th November & 21st November.
Also Read: Can India Qualify For FIFA World Cup 2026? – Explained
Kings Cup 2023
After winning the SAFF Championship 2023, the Blue Tigers are set to return to action in the upcoming September international window. The 49th edition of the King’s Cup is scheduled to be held in Thailand from September 7th to September 10th.
In this four-nation tournament, India will compete against the hosts Thailand, along with Iraq and familiar rivals Lebanon, in a knockout format.
In addition to the King’s Cup, India is also planning to participate in the Asian Games during the same window. However, there’s a possibility that they might field a U-23 squad for the Asian Games due to prior commitments.
Merdeka Cup Tournament
Sunil Chhetri and his team will participate in the King’s Cup first. After that, they have another assignment lined up for the following month. India’s participation in the Merdeka Cup has been confirmed by the Malaysian FA. The tournament will take place from October 14 to 17 and will feature four teams: Malaysia (the hosts), Palestine, Lebanon, and the Blue Tigers (India’s team).
