The Indian football team will participate in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, starting from August 29 in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The CAFA Nations Cup is an international football competition that is played among the senior teams of the Central Asian Football Association. The inaugural edition took place in 2023.
India are one of the two invitee teams for the latest tournament alongside Oman. They are replacing Malaysia who had to withdraw from the tournament due to logistical problems.
A total of eight teams are participating in the second edition of the CAFA Nations Cup, with India clubbed in Group B alongside Tajikistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Afghanistan.
Based on the FIFA rankings, Iran are the top team in the tournament at world No. 20. Tajikistan and India are 106th and 133rd, respectively, while Afghanistan are the lowest ranked team in the group at 161st spot.
CAFA Nations Cup 2025 groups
Group A: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, Oman
Group B: Tajikistan, Iran, Afghanistan, India
The top two teams from each group will square off in the final of the tournament, while the two runners-up will meet in the third-place playoff.
This will be India’s first tournament since former head coach Manolo Marquez mutually agreed to part ways with the Indian football team.
The Blue Tigers are also expected to have a new coach by the time the tournament gets underway with three names in the mix for India’s top football job.
India will play all their group stage matches in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 at the Hisor Central Stadium in Tajikistan.
The same venue will also host the third-place playoff, while the final will be held at the Milliy Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Iran won the inaugural edition of the CAFA Nations Cup in 2023, while Uzbekistan were runners-up.
The tournament will also serve as preparation before India resumes their AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers campaign in October.
CAFA Nations Cup 2025 schedule
- August 29, Friday: Tajikistan vs India
- August 29, Friday: Iran vs Afghanistan
- August 30, Saturday: Uzbekistan vs Oman
- August 30, Saturday: Kyrgyzstan vs Turkmenistan
- September 1, Monday: India vs Iran
- September 1, Monday: Afghanistan vs Tajikistan
- September 2, Tuesday: Oman vs Kyrgyzstan
- September 2, Tuesday: Turkmenistan vs Uzbekistan
- September 4, Thursday: Tajikistan vs Iran
- September 4, Thursday: Afghanistan vs India
- September 5, Friday: Uzbekistan vs Kyrgyzstan
- September 5, Friday: Turkmenistan vs Oman
- September 8, Monday: Third-pace playoff
- September 8, Monday: Final