India to Battle Iran, Afghanistan & Tajikistan in CAFA Nations Cup 2025
- Invited after Malaysia's withdrawal, India will compete in the tournament from August 31 to September 8 as preparation for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
- India will face Tajikistan (Aug 29), Iran (Sep 1), and Afghanistan (Sep 4) in Dushanbe; top two teams progress to playoffs.
- The tournament provides crucial match practice ahead of India’s remaining AFC Asian Cup Qualifier games against Singapore, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong.
In preparation for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round, India’s senior men’s national football team will participate in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, scheduled from August 31 to September 8. The invitation came after Malaysia withdrew due to logistical issues and player unavailability, as the tournament falls outside the official FIFA calendar.
Organized by the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA), the tournament will be co-hosted by Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. India has been placed in Group B, which will be played in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, alongside hosts Tajikistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. India’s fixtures include matches against Tajikistan (August 29), Iran (September 1), and Afghanistan (September 4).
The top two teams from each group will advance to the play-offs on September 8. The third-place match will be held in Dushanbe between the group runners-up, while the final between the group winners will take place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Group A, hosted in Tashkent, features Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, and Oman. Alongside Oman, India is one of the two invited nations participating in the second edition of the tournament. Iran are the defending champions, having defeated Uzbekistan 1-0 in the 2023 final.
India’s CAFA campaign comes amid their ongoing AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, where they suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat to Hong Kong in the first match. Their remaining matches include home and away games against Singapore (October 9 and 14), an away fixture against Bangladesh (November 18), and a home clash with Hong Kong, China on March 31, 2026.
