The Indian men’s football team is set to feature in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, scheduled from August 29 to September 8.
CAFA Nations Cup : The Central Asian competition will be co-hosted by Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, with India drawn in Group B and playing all their group stage matches in Hisor, near Dushanbe.
This tournament comes at a crucial juncture for Indian football, as the Blue Tigers return to international action after a challenging year. With just one win recorded in 2025, the side has undergone a managerial change, with Khalid Jamil becoming the first Indian head coach in over a decade to take charge of the national team. His immediate task will be to stabilise the squad and push for a strong run in the competition.
“It’s a big challenge for me. I’ve got what I wanted, and now it’s about delivering,” Jamil said in Bengaluru before the team’s departure.
India’s Group B fixtures are as follows:
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August 29 – vs Tajikistan (opener against hosts)
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September 1 – vs Iran
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September 4 – vs Afghanistan
The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals. The third-place play-off will be held on September 8 in Dushanbe, while the final takes place the same day in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) consists of Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. For this edition, India and Oman have been invited as guest teams.