The Indian Football Team is all set to participate in the upcoming CAFA Nations Cup 2025, stepping in for Malaysia, who recently pulled out. The tournament will be held from August 29 to September 8 across Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. This marks a big chance for India to test their squad in a competitive environment before the Asian Cup qualifiers.
Malaysia’s exit from the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 came after their head coach Peter Cklamovski cited the non-FIFA match window as a challenge, making it hard to gather their full-strength squad. With Malaysia withdrawing, India has been invited to fill the vacant spot.
India will compete in Group B alongside Iran, Afghanistan, and hosts Tajikistan. The final paperwork for India’s entry into the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 will be completed within the next 24 to 28 hours. A source close to the tournament revealed that both AIFF and CAFA are wrapping up final negotiations.
“India will play Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan in Group B matches,” the source confirmed.
A Tough Test for a Team in Transition
The CAFA Nations Cup 2025 comes at a challenging moment for Indian football. The Blue Tigers have won just once since November 2023, a friendly match against Maldives in March 2025. That win came under head coach Manolo Marquez, who has since resigned after a string of disappointing results.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has shortlisted three potential replacements: Stephen Constantine, Khalid Jamil, and Stefan Tarkovic. A decision on the next head coach is expected soon, but whoever takes the job will have limited time to prepare the team for the CAFA Nations Cup 2025.
Meanwhile, Indian football faced a strange controversy when the AIFF claimed it received coaching applications from stars like Xavi Hernandez and Pep Guardiola. After initial fan excitement, the federation clarified that these applications were fake.
India’s group in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 is tough. Iran is one of Asia’s top-ranked teams, while Tajikistan, the host nation, will have home support. These matches offer a valuable opportunity for India to get ready for two crucial qualifiers in October.
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India’s Matches and Group Details
India will play three group-stage games in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025. The winners of each group will advance to the final, while the second-placed teams will fight for third place on September 8.
Group A:
- Uzbekistan (Host)
- Kyrgyzstan
- Turkmenistan
- Oman
Group B:
- Tajikistan (Host)
- Iran
- Afghanistan
- India
Both India and Oman are guest teams invited to join the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, which includes strong teams from Central and South Asia.
India’s expected schedule:
- 29 August: India vs Tajikistan
- 1 September: India vs Iran
- 4 September: India vs Afghanistan
- 8 September: Final or Third Place Match (if qualified)
These matches in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 will help the new head coach assess the players and build team chemistry before the big games in October.
Preparing for the Asian Cup Qualifiers
India has a tough road ahead in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. After a draw against Bangladesh and a loss to Hong Kong, India must win both matches against Singapore in October 2025 to stay in contention.
That’s why the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 is so important. It gives the team real match experience and a chance to fix key issues. The AIFF is expected to request longer national camps and early player releases from ISL clubs to prepare better.
However, there’s ongoing uncertainty in Indian football. The ISL 2025–26 season is on hold due to unresolved issues with the AIFF constitution draft and the Master Rights Agreement with FSDL. These complications make the national team’s performance in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 even more crucial.
The coming weeks will shape the direction of Indian football. A strong performance at the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 could give fans hope and offer the team much-needed momentum.
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