- विज्ञापन -
Kuala Lumpur: On December 9, 2024, in Kuala Lumpur, the draw for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers final round took place, placing India in Group C alongside Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangladesh.
A total of 24 teams were divided into six groups of four, with only the six group winners qualifying for the tournament, joining the 18 teams that have already secured their spots after the second round of qualifying. The final round of qualifiers will be held over six match days in a home-and-away format from March 25, 2025, to March 31, 2026. India aims to qualify for three consecutive Asian Cups for the first time, starting their campaign at home against Bangladesh.
India has faced all three opponents recently: they played Bangladesh in the 2021 SAFF Championship, Hong Kong during the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in Kolkata in June 2022, and Singapore in the Hung Thinh Friendly Tournament in Vietnam in September 2022.
According to the FIFA Rankings from November, India is ranked 127th, while Hong Kong is 156th, Singapore 161st, and Bangladesh 185th.
After the draw, Indian head coach Manolo Marquez emphasized the team’s status as a Pot 1 team, stating the need to demonstrate their qualification credentials. He acknowledged the competitive nature of all groups and noted Hong Kong’s improvements under coach Ashley Westwood, whom India faced in World Cup Qualifiers while he was with Afghanistan. Marquez expressed confidence in their upcoming matches, particularly the opener against Bangladesh in March, and stressed the importance of topping the group to secure a place in the Asian Cup.
India’s Fixtures in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round:
Full Draw Results for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round:
