NewKerala.com

India's Final Asian Cup Qualifier: Coach Khalid Jamil Names Squad vs Hong Kong

Indian head coach Khalid Jamil has announced a 23-member squad for the team's final AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Hong Kong. With India already out of qualification, the match is viewed as preparation for future tournaments. Jamil emphasized the opportunity to integrate promising talent from younger national teams. The match will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on March 31, 2026.

Key Points: India Squad for Asian Cup Qualifier vs Hong Kong Announced

  • Final qualifier match vs Hong Kong
  • Squad of 23 players named
  • Focus on future preparation
  • Match in Kochi on March 31
2 min read

Coach Khalid Jamil names 23-member senior men's squad for Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong

Coach Khalid Jamil names 23-member Indian squad for final AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Hong Kong. Match details and future focus.

"This is a good opportunity for us to build for the future. - Khalid Jamil"

New Delhi, March 24

Indian senior men's national team head coach Khalid Jamil on Tuesday named a 23-member squad for the last match of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round against Hong Kong, China, to be held on March 31.

The Indian men's team will begin their camp in Kochi on Tuesday, where 20 players, along with the staff, have assembled.

Defender Anwar Ali, midfielder Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, and forward Edmund Lalrindika, who played their last Indian Super League 2025-26 match against Mohammedan Sporting Club on Monday, March 23, will join the squad later on Tuesday.

With India already ruled out of qualification for the Asian Cup, the match serves as preparation for the future.

India head coach Khalid Jamil said, "This is a good opportunity for us to build for the future. We have a lot of promising players coming through, who are currently with the U20 and U23 national teams, playing in the SAFF U20 Championship in the Maldives, and the U23 Tri-Nation in Arunachal Pradesh. Our assistant coach, Mahesh, is himself leading the U20s, which will help us familiarise them with the system we have in place here with the senior team."

The 2027 AFC Asian Cup will be the 19th edition of the AFC Asian Cup, the quadrennial international men's football championship of Asia organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The tournament will involve 24 national teams after the expansion in 2019. It will be held in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5, 2027.

The Indian squad for the qualifiers:

Goalkeepers: Albino Gomes, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith.

Defenders: Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Bijoy Varghese, Nikhil Poojary, Rahul Bheke, Roshan Singh Naorem, Sandesh Jhingan.

Midfielders: Ashique Kuruniyan, Danish Farooq Bhat, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Lalengmawia Ralte, Sahal Abdul Samad.

Forwards: Edmund Lalrindika, Farukh Choudhary, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Ryan Williams.

Head coach: Khalid Jamil

Match information:

India vs Hong Kong (AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round)

March 31, 2026, at 19:00 IST

Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kochi

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As a football fan living in India, I appreciate the transparency. It's a rebuilding phase. Hope the fans in Kochi come out to support the team even for a 'dead rubber'. The squad looks decent.
A
Ananya R
Solid squad! But I have to ask respectfully - why are we still seeing some of the same older names? Where is the bold call-up for a standout U20 player directly? If it's for the future, let's be more aggressive. Jai Hind!
V
Vikram M
The coordination with the U20 setup is a smart move by Khalid Jamil. Mahesh sir coaching the juniors will help maintain a consistent style of play. Long-term planning is what we've needed. All the best, Blue Tigers! 🐯
K
Karthik V
Strong defensive line with Jhingan and Bheke. Hope the midfield creates more chances this time. The match is at 7 PM in Kochi - perfect timing for fans! Let's end the qualifiers on a high note.
P
Priya S
Heartbreak that we are already out, but kudos to the team for not giving up. This is for pride and preparation. Let's show Hong Kong what we are made of. Come on, India!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50