Panaji
The Indian men's football team will take on Malaysia in a FIFA international friendly match on November 18 at the GMC Balayogi Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad. This match is an important part of India's preparations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, which will begin in March next year. The Blue Tigers will be aiming to secure their first victory under head coach Manolo Márquez, following a series of mixed results in recent matches.
India, currently ranked 125th in the FIFA rankings, will face Malaysia, who are ranked 133rd. This friendly match comes after a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Vietnam last month, which gave the team some positive momentum. However, India will be eager to improve on their recent record under Márquez, which includes two draws and one loss.
This friendly also provides India with an opportunity to bounce back after their 4-2 defeat to Malaysia in the semi-finals of the Merdeka Cup in October 2023. The Blue Tigers will be looking to turn the tables and gain some much-needed confidence as they head into the next phase of their qualification campaign.
The match is scheduled to be broadcast live on Sports18 and JioCinema, offering football fans across the country the chance to watch the action. The match kicks off at 7:30 pm on November 18. With a critical period ahead for India's national team, the game against Malaysia is an important step as the Blue Tigers continue their preparations for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
India has already started its training camp in Hyderabad ahead of the friendly. However, the team will be without key players such as midfielder Anirudh Thapa and forward Vikram Pratap Singh, who are both sidelined due to injuries. Odisha FC's Thoiba Singh has been called up as a replacement for Thapa.
