India's AFC Qualifier Against Hong Kong Scheduled in Kochi
India's Final AFC Qualifier Against Hong Kong Set for Kochi
The Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi, Kerala, is set to host the final match of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers for the Indian senior men's national football team against Hong Kong, China, on March 31. The match is scheduled to start at 19:00 IST (Indian Standard Time), as confirmed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
A Historic Return to Kochi
This event marks the first time in a decade that the Blue Tigers will play at Kochi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The last match held there was in March 2016, when India faced Turkmenistan in a FIFA World Cup qualifier, which was also the last appearance of the Indian senior men's team in Kerala.
FIFA Ranking Points at Stake in Dead Rubber Clash
Although India has been eliminated from contention for the AFC Asian Cup 2027, they will strive to conclude their qualifying campaign on a high note with a victory. Despite the match being a dead rubber, as Hong Kong has also been knocked out, it still holds importance due to the FIFA ranking points available. This will be the third distinct home venue for India during the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round, following matches in Shillong against Bangladesh last March and in Margao against Singapore last October.
Indian Women's Team Suffers Heavy Defeat to Japan
In a recent match, the Indian senior women's national team faced a significant setback, losing 0-11 to Japan in their second Group C encounter of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026. This match took place at the Perth Rectangular Stadium in Perth, Australia, on March 7. Japan, former champions of both the World Cup and Asian Cup, dominated the game, leading by five goals at halftime.
Japan's Dominance
Hinata Miyazawa scored a hat-trick for Japan with goals at the 20th, 35th, and 81st minutes, while Riko Ueki also netted three goals at the 47th, 50th, and 65th minutes. Kiko Seike contributed two goals, and Yuzuki Yamamoto, Yui Hasegawa, and Maya Hijikata each added one goal to the tally, as reported by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).