Khalid Jamil Unveils Squad for AFC Asian Cup Qualifier Against Hong Kong

Khalid Jamil Announces Final Squad

The head coach of the Indian senior men's national football team, Khalid Jamil, has revealed a 23-member squad for their upcoming match against Hong Kong in the final round of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers, scheduled for March 31.

The Blue Tigers commenced their training camp in Kochi on Tuesday, gathering 20 players along with the coaching staff. Notably, defender Anwar Ali, midfielder Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, and forward Edmund Lalrindika, who recently played for their respective clubs in the Indian Super League on March 23, will join the team later today.

Although India has been eliminated from contention for the Asian Cup, this match is viewed as a crucial opportunity for future preparations. Coach Khalid Jamil emphasized, "This match presents a valuable chance for us to lay the groundwork for the future. We have many talented players emerging from the U20 and U23 national teams, currently competing in the SAFF U20 Championship in the Maldives and the U23 Tri-Nation tournament in Arunachal Pradesh. Our assistant coach Mahesh is leading the U20s, which will help integrate them into our senior team system."

India's 23-Member Squad Breakdown

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 Details

The match between India and Hong Kong will take place on March 31, 2026, at 19:00 IST. The venue for this encounter is the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi.