Indian national football team upcoming matches have been set as the Blue Tigers have a heavy schedule during the summer of the year 2023. The Indian football team will feature in the upcoming Intercontinental Cup 2023 and the SAFF Championship (SAFF Cup) 2023 in June and July.
The SAFF Championship is a traditional football tournament that is played between all the members of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), the likes of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives etc. Meanwhile for SAFF 2023, Lebanon and Kuwait have been invited as a guest participation.
The previous edition of the SAFF Championship was played in the year 2021 when the Blue Tigers ( Indian football team) won the tournament beating Nepal in the Final played in Maldives.
The SAFF Championship 2023 edition was supposed to be hosted by Sri Lanka, however, after the Sri Lankan football association was suspended by the FIFA on 21st January. New round of bidding was invited for the SAFF 2023 hosting rights and reportedly only Nepal made a bid.
However, after a recent of board of meeting between the SAFF member associations, it was decided that the hosting rights for the tournament would be provided to the defending champions India. It was later confirm by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) that Bengaluru will be the centralized host venue for the tournament.
The draw ceremony of the SAFF Championship 2023 was held on the 17th of May in New Delhi and teams were drawn in following groups, India, Kuwait, Nepal and Pakistan in Group A, Lebanon, Maldives, Bhutan and Bangladesh in Group B.
After the draw ceremony of the SAFF Cup 2023, the fixtures for the tournament was officially released by the SAFF committee and the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Let's have a look at the Indian national football team upcoming matches in the SAFF Championship 2023.
India vs Pakistan football match
India vs Pakistan matches in any sport is a big occasion for the fans of both the teams. Both the teams, also a neighbouring country to each other, share a intense rivalry whether in Cricket or Football or any other sport because of the political reasons. After last meeting between both the teams back in the year 2018, that India won, Pakistan is making a comeback from a FIFA ban and will be featuring in the upcoming SAFF Championship 2023.
Fortunately for fans of both the teams, both have been drawn in the same group. The India vs Pakistan football match will be SAFF Championship 2023 2nd match and India and Pakistan's first match, to be played on the 21st of June.
Indian national football team upcoming matches
After the most awaited India vs Pakistan match in the SAFF Championship opener, the Indian football team will play their next matches against Nepal and Kuwait on the 24th and 27th of June respectively.
If the Blue Tigers finishes in the top 2 of their group, they will then qualify for the SAFF Championship 2023 Semi-Finals that they will play against either position 1 or 2 team from group 2 depending on their own position in their group. If they then pass the hurdles of the semi-finals, the Indian football team would be able to play the SAFF Championship 2023 Final to be played on the 4th July.
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