The Indian football team may get the opportunity to play in the CAFA Nations Cup, to be held in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan from August 28 to September 8.
CAFA Nations Cup: The Indian football team has received an invitation to participate in the CAFA Nations Cup, scheduled to be held from August 28 to September 8, 2025. This tournament will be co-hosted by Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India has been proposed to play in this tournament after Malaysia withdrew, which the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has accepted in principle. However, official confirmation from the organizers is still awaited.
Malaysia Withdraws, India Becomes Potential Participant
Malaysia was initially supposed to participate in this tournament, but due to player availability and logistical issues, Malaysia withdrew on July 15. Following this, CAFA (Central Asian Football Association) invited India and Oman. It is reported that if India participates in this tournament, it will be the first international tournament under the leadership of the new head coach. The AIFF has already clarified that the announcement of the new head coach of the Indian team will be made on August 1, 2025.
What is the CAFA Nations Cup?
The CAFA Nations Cup was started in the year 2023. This tournament was launched with the aim of promoting the level of football among Central Asian countries and providing a platform for international matches. Iran won the title in the first edition. The following countries are participating in the 2025 edition:
- Iran
- Afghanistan
- Tajikistan
- Uzbekistan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Turkmenistan
- Oman (Invited)
- India (Potential Participant)
Outside FIFA Window, Club Release Becomes a Question
This tournament does not fall within the official FIFA international window (September 1-9), which makes it interesting to see whether Indian clubs will release their players. Many clubs in India's I-League and Indian Super League (ISL) may hesitate to release players, which could cause difficulties for the coach in team selection.
An AIFF official, on condition of anonymity, said, "We have received an invitation from CAFA and we are seriously considering it. However, final confirmation is still awaited from the organizers." This tournament could prove important for the Indian football team in many ways. On one hand, the team will begin playing under the new coach's strategy, while on the other hand, India will also get valuable experience playing against Central Asian teams.
