Its Indian team was chosen along with Hong Kong, Afghanistan, and Cambodia in Group D of 2023’s AFC Asian Cup final round qualifying matches scheduled to take place at Kolkata in June.
The draw ceremony officially took place at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
India will take on Cambodia on the 8th of June before playing a match with Afghanistan on June 11 and Hong Kong on June 14.
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The games are played at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
The 24 teams participating are split into six categories. The winners of the six groups and the five top second-placed teams will be invited to the AFC Asian Cup in China in 2023.
The Blue Tigers had made it to the last qualifying round following being third during two games of 2022’s FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup Joint Qualifiers.
“Draws can be either positive or negative. But we have to be on top of our game,” head coach Igor Stimac stated after the draw.
While discussing the teams in that group, Stimac advised everyone to “take it seriously to finish the task.”
“Afghanistan has always been tough to beat. They have players who have played internationally in leagues.”
“Hong Kong is also going to be strengthened by the addition of 3 players coming from Brazil perhaps one from the UK and New Zealand join them, as well as a variety of other players who are playing abroad. However, we must justify our place as a pot one team,” the head coach declared.
“We are playing at home, and with hopefully the supporters cheering us on in the crowd, players will be more excited.”
Stimac is planning to begin the training in preparation for the tournament in Kolkata starting in the first week of May.
However, a half dozen members from ATK Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City FC will be working on the AFC Champions League commitment.
“We are planning to start the preparations for our camp in Kolkata at the beginning of May.
However, Mumbai City FC players Mumbai City FC won’t be ready until May 29 due to commitments to their clubs for the AFC Champions League.
They will only be able to join the club after May 25 and 29, respectively.
“Furthermore, ATK Mohun Bagan is also expected to participate in this year’s AFC Cup, and their players will be out of the tournament until May 25th,” Stimac informed.
“And there are dozen or more members from each of clubs that are part of the team for nationals.”
In that period, Stimac will check on the other players.
“In such a scenario, there is a need to keep tabs on the other players, then prepare for them, and then wait for others to sign up. It’s a similar situation to the situation in March before the friendly matches,” he added.
The Blue Tigers are playing Bahrain and Belarus on 23 March and 26, respectively, in two international friendly matches.
