Indian Football - Important Tournaments To Keep an Eye on in September 2023

September 2023 is all set to become a momentous month in the annals of Indian football history as the national teams gear up to participate in an impressive line-up of seven tournaments across Asia. From the men's senior, U23, U19, and U16 teams to the women's senior and U17 teams, Indian football will look to make a mark on the grand stage. This article delves into the details of these tournaments and the teams' fixtures, showcasing the growth of Indian football on the international scene.

SAFF U16 Championship (Thimphu, Bhutan):

Under the guidance of newly-appointed head coach Ishfaq Ahmed, India's U16 team will defend their title at the SAFF U16 Championship in Thimphu, Bhutan. After extensive scouting and rigorous training, India, placed in Group A alongside Bangladesh and Nepal, aims to progress to the tournament's semi-finals. The fixtures for India include:

 

- September 1: Bangladesh vs India – Group A (14:30 IST, Thimphu)

 

- September 5: India vs Nepal – Group A (14:30 IST, Thimphu)

 

- September 7: Semi-final (14:30 or 18:30 IST, Thimphu)

 

- September 10: Final (17:30 IST, Thimphu)

 

AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 Qualifiers (Dalian, China PR):

Clifford Miranda, recently named AIFF Men's Coach of the Year, aims to secure India's first-ever ticket to the AFC U23 Asian Cup. Facing Maldives, China PR, and UAE in Group G, India must emerge as group winners or one of the four best runners-up across 11 groups to qualify for the final tournament in Qatar. This qualification also acts as an AFC qualifier for the Men's Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024. India's fixtures include:

 

 September 6: India vs Maldives (Time TBD, Dalian)

 

September 9: China PR vs India (Time TBD, Dalian)

 

 September 12: UAE vs India (Time TBD, Dalian)

 

49th King's Cup (Chiang Mai, Thailand):

Building on their triumphs earlier this year, the Indian senior men's team, coached by Igor Stimac, heads to Thailand for the prestigious 49th King's Cup. Alongside Iraq, Lebanon, and hosts Thailand, India could do well with some preparation before the Asian Games. The tournament's draw is yet to be confirmed, but India's fixtures are scheduled as follows:

 

 September 7: India vs TBD – Semi-final (16:00 or 19:00 IST, Chiang Mai)

 

 September 10: India vs TBD – Third-place Play-off or Final (16:00 or 19:00 IST, Chiang Mai)

 

AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup Indonesia 2024 Qualifiers Round 2 (Buriram, Thailand):

Priya PV, AIFF Women's Coach of the Year, leads India's U17 women's team in their journey towards the final tournament in Indonesia in April 2024. In Group A, alongside Korea Republic, IR Iran, and hosts Thailand, India strives to secure a spot as one of the top two teams. India's fixtures include:

 

 September 19: Korea Republic vs India (15:00 IST, Buriram)

 

September 21: India vs Thailand (19:00 IST, Buriram)

 

September 23: IR Iran vs India (15:00 IST, Buriram)

 

19th Asian Games (Hangzhou, China):

 Indian football teams make a highly-anticipated return to the Asian Games, competing against top teams from the continent. The men's team, led by Igor Stimac, faces China, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, aiming to qualify for the round of 16 as group winners or one of the best four runners-up. The women's team, mentored by Thomas Dennerby, faces Thailand and Chinese Taipei in Group B. India's fixtures include:

 

September 19: China vs India – Men's Group A (17:00 IST, Hangzhou)

 

September 21: India vs Bangladesh – Men's Group A (13:30 IST, Xiaoshan)

 

 September 21: Chinese Taipei vs India – Women's Group B (17:00 IST, Wenzhou)

 

 September 24: Myanmar vs India – Men's Group A (17:00 IST, Xiaoshan)

 

 September 24: India vs Thailand – Women's Group B (17:00 IST, Wenzhou)

 

September 27 or 28: Men's Round of 16

 

 September 30: Women's Quarter-final

 

October 1: Men's Quarter-final

 

 October 3: Women's Semi-final

 

October 4: Men's Semi-final

 

October 6: Women's Gold/Bronze medal match

 

October 7: Men's Gold/Bronze medal match

 

SAFF U19 Championship (Kathmandu, Nepal):

 In their quest to defend last year's title, India's U19 team travels to Kathmandu, Nepal, to compete against Bangladesh and Bhutan in Group B. The opening match against Bangladesh promises to be an enthralling rematch of the 2022 final. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. India's fixtures include:

 

September 21: Bangladesh vs India – Group B (13:15 IST, Kathmandu)

 

September 25: India vs Bhutan – Group B (17:15 IST, Kathmandu)

 

September 27: Semi-final (13:15 or 17:15 IST, Kathmandu)

 

September 30: Final (17:15 IST, Kathmandu)