The Indian senior men’s national football team is set to participate in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 as part of their build-up to the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round. The second edition of the Central Asian Football Association tournament will be held from August 31 to September 8, co-hosted by Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
India has been placed in Group B, alongside hosts Tajikistan, Islamic Republic of Iran, and Afghanistan. All Group B matches will be played in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The Blue Tigers will kick off their campaign against the hosts on August 29, followed by matches against Iran on September 1 and Afghanistan on September 4.
Meanwhile, Group A matches will take place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, featuring the hosts alongside Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, and Oman. Notably, India and Oman are the two invited teams in this edition of the tournament, which is otherwise reserved for the six CAFA member nations.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the play-off stage, scheduled for September 8. The third-place match will be contested between the group runners-up in Dushanbe, while the final will see the two group winners face off in Tashkent.
Islamic Republic of Iran, who lifted the title in the inaugural edition in 2023 by defeating Uzbekistan 1-0, will return as the defending champions.
CAFA Nations Cup 2025 – Group Stage Draw
Group A (Tashkent, Uzbekistan):
- Uzbekistan (Host)
- Kyrgyz Republic
- Turkmenistan
- Oman
Group B (Dushanbe, Tajikistan):
- Tajikistan (Host)
- IR Iran
- Afghanistan
- India
India’s Match Schedule:
- August 29: Tajikistan vs India
- September 1: India vs IR Iran
- September 4: Afghanistan vs India