New Delhi
India will take part in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, which begins on August 29. The tournament will be played across Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. This event brings together senior football teams from the Central Asian Football Association. India and Oman have been invited to replace Malaysia, who withdrew due to logistical issues.
This is the second edition of the tournament. Iran, who won the first edition in 2023, are the top-ranked team at world No. 20. India is ranked 133rd, while Tajikistan and Afghanistan, who are also in India’s group, are 106th and 161st respectively.
India is in Group B with Tajikistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. Group A includes Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, and Oman. The top two teams from each group will play the final, while the remaining two will fight for third place.
India will play all its group matches at the Hisor Central Stadium in Tajikistan. The third-place match will also be played there, and the final will be held at the Milliy Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
This tournament will be India’s first appearance since former coach Manolo Marquez stepped down. A new coach is expected to take charge before the event starts.
The tournament also acts as preparation for India’s AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, which begin in October. With strong opponents in the group, India hopes to test new strategies and build a stronger team for future competitions.
