Updated: 24 August 2023
King’s Cup 2023: Schedule, Format, Teams, And Predictions. After achieving success at the SAFF Championship, the Indian men’s football team is re-entering the scene. They are set to engage in the 49th King’s Cup, scheduled to take place in Thailand from September 7th to 10th. This tournament will function as a platform for launching into the upcoming AFC Asian Cup in early 2024.
The 49th King’s Cup involves a quartet of nations: India (ranked 99), Iraq (ranked 70), Thailand (ranked 113), and Lebanon (ranked 100). The tournament structure encompasses two semi-final matchups and a culminating final.
In the 2023 King’s Cup, India will face Iraq in one of the semi-finals. The other semi-final will be between Lebanon and Thailand. The match between India and Iraq is scheduled for September 2023 at the 700 Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The match will start at 4 PM IST.
The last encounter between India and Iraq was in 2010 during a friendly held in Baghdad. India suffered a crushing 2-0 defeat against Iraq in that match. However, much has changed since then. The Indian team has improved in every aspect of the game and now has clear strategies for their competitors. Additionally, India is currently in good form after achieving victory at the SAFF Championship against powerful Kuwait.
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Basic Details
| Start Date | September 7 |
| End Date | September 10 |
| Stadium | 700 Anniversary Stadium |
| City | Chiang Mai, Thailand |
Schedule Of Kings Cup 2023
| Date | Time | Round | Matches |
| 7th September | 4 PM IST | Semi-final | Iraq vs India |
| 7th September | 7 PM IST | Semi-final | Thailand vs Lebanon |
| 10th September | 4 PM IST | Match For Third Place | – |
| 10th September | 7 PM IST | Final | – |
What Is The Format?
In the King’s Cup, only four teams participate. Each team competes against one of the other three teams in a match determined by a draw. The winning teams advance to the finals, while the losing teams have a chance to showcase their skills in the third-place match.
Past Performance Of Indian Football Team at King’s Cup
India last participated in the King’s Cup in the 2019 edition. It lost the semifinal game against Curacao but went on to defeat Thailand and secure the bronze medal. This was the 2nd bronze medal for India with the first being won in the 1977 edition. India also participated in the 1981 edition but faced elimination in the group stage.
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This will be India’s 4th appearance at the tournament, and fans hope their team goes all the way to secure the gold medal. If India defeats mighty Iraq and wins the King’s Cup, it will greatly boost team morale heading into the Asian Games 2022.
Prediction For India This Year
As the Asian Games only allow U-23 football teams to participate, Indian coach Igor Stimac plans to include some of the players bound for Hangzhou in the squad for the King’s Cup. This will serve as a dress rehearsal for those players participating in the Asian Games. Having some U-23 players on the national squad against higher-ranked teams allows Stimac to test their skills in a high-intensity game and identify any areas that need improvement before finalizing the starting lineup.
