India football team is ready to take on Thailand for a FIFA friendly match. The match is scheduled for 4 June and the Men In Blue are set to travel to the southeast Asian nation.
India’s head coach Manolo Márquez on Wednesday (28 May) confirmed that the 28 players participating in the ongoing camp in Kolkata will travel to Thailand for the one-off friendly.
The Blue Tigers had been training in the country’s eastern port city since 19 May. The Thailand vs India match will be stated at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani at 18:00 IST.
Following the match, the Indian football team will depart for Hong Kong on 5 June for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round fixture against the East Asian side on 10 June at 17:30 IST.
India’s football squad for the FIFA Friendly against Thailand
The squad comprises a blend of youth and experience. Veterans like Sunil Chhetri, Jhingan, and Brandon will be joined by rising stars such as Suhail Bhat, Ayush Chhetri, and Edmund Lalrindika.
Goalkeepers: Hrithik Tiwari, Vishal Kaith, Gurmeet Singh, Amrinder Singh.
Defenders: Naorem Roshan Singh, Rahul Bheke, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Anwar Ali, Boris Singh Thangjam, Sandesh Jhingan, Asish Rai, Subhasish Bose, Mehtab Singh, Abhishek Singh Tekcham.
Midfielders: Suresh Singh Wangjam, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Udanta Singh Kumam, Lalengmawia Ralte, Liston Colaco, Ashique Kuruniyan, Brandon Fernandes, Nikhil Prabhu.
Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Edmund Lalrindika, Manvir Singh, Suhail Ahmad Bhat, Lallianzuala Chhangte.
Also Read: All You Need To Know About Manolo Marquez, New India Football Head Coach
India’s recent form
On May 26, India beat Santosh Trophy champions Bengal 2-1, with goals from Brandon Fernandes and Ashique Kuruniyan. The following day, they secured a convincing 3-0 victory over North 24 Parganas, thanks to strikes by Sunil Chhetri, Chinglensana Singh, and Udanta Singh.
The Blue Tigers had also experienced a rocky start in their quest to qualify for the upcoming Asian Cup. Despite playing out a goalless draw with Bangladesh in the opening AFC Asian Cup qualifiers third round opening fixture, Marquez is looking to guide the team across the line and qualifying for the next round.
“For me, it’s very important, but it’s not the most important. Obviously, we are here to qualify. Obviously, that is important, and we want to qualify. We will do everything to arrive in Saudi in 2027. But, the most important thing is to work with the generations that will arrive in the future,” the head coach stated.
