The India national football team was the first of the 23 visitors to reach Qatar for the continent's flagship football event, the AFC Asian Cup 2023. They were greeted by cheering fans upon their arrival. Watch here
The India national football team touched down in Qatar ahead of January's AFC Asian Cup 2023. The Blue Tigers were the first to arrive for Asian football's flagship event, held in the same country that hosted the FIFA World Cup 2022 in December last year. India will join 23 other teams, including hosts and reigning champions Qatar, for the tournament, starting January 12, 2024. (More Football News)
India national team head coach Igor Stimac only announced his final squad for the AFC Asian Cup 2023 on December 30, a day before the Blue Tigers arrived in Qatar to partake in the event. Among those selected by the Croatian tactician were veterans Sunil Chhetri, Sandesh Jhingan, and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and young guns Liston Colaco, Sahal Abdul Samed, and Anirudh Thapa. India, under the stewardship of Stephen Constantine, almost qualified for the knockout stage of the Asian Cup four years earlier, only to be thwarted by a late dagger in their must-win clash against Bahrain.
This time around, India will open their campaign against former winners Australia on January 13, before playing Uzbekistan five days later. They will complete their group round on January 23 against Syria.
India's 26-member squad for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith.
Defenders: Akash Mishra, Lalchungnunga, Mehtab Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, Sandesh Jhingan, Subhasish Bose.
Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Deepak Tangri, Lalengmawia Ralte, Liston Colaco, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Udanta Singh.
Forwards: Ishan Pandita, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Manvir Singh, Rahul Kannoly Praveen, Sunil Chhetri, Vikram Partap Singh.
India's Group B fixtures at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023
January 13, 2024: Australia vs India (17:00 IST, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan)
January 18, 2024: India vs Uzbekistan (20:00 IST, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan)
January 23, 2024: Syria vs India (17:00 IST, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor)