Blue Tigers face do-or-die matches against Singapore in Asian Cup qualifiers

India will face Singapore in crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifying matches on October 9 and 14, seeking a third consecutive qualification. With a do-or-die situation, India looks to bounce back after draws and a narrow loss in early Group C matches

Hyderabad: India’s quest for an unprecedented third consecutive qualification for the AFC Asian Cup began in March 2025, but the FIFA International Window seven months later in October may prove to be the most important for them.

Facing Singapore in back-to-back matches on October 9 (away in Singapore) and October 14 (at home in Goa), India find themselves in a do-or-die situation after garnering a single point from their first two matches against Bangladesh (0-0) and Hong Kong, China (0-1). Singapore, on the other hand, are currently at the top of Group C with four points from two games.

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India defender Rahul Bheke outlined the importance of the double-header against Singapore. “These two are perhaps the most crucial games for us. They are playing at home, and it will not be easy. We need to make sure that we do everything we can to get the points.

“We’ve seen videos of Singapore’s game, and we are preparing accordingly,” he continued.

Things stand fairly evenly between the two sides in the head-to-head record. Singapore have the upper hand over India when playing the Blue Tigers in the South-East Asian city-state, with eight wins to India’s six, and one match drawn. They also marginally lead India in goals scored 26-24. The last time these two sides squared off in Singapore, the Lions won 2-0 in an international friendly in 2012.

India, however, have the upper hand in the overall head-to-head record, winning 12 matches to Singapore’s 11, while four games ended in draws. The last meeting was a 1-1 draw, with India’s Ashique Kuruniyan cancelling out Ikhsan Fandi’s strike in 2022.

India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who was in goal during that match in Vietnam, recalled how close the game was.

“It was a very tight match last time we played them, but they have improved since then. They have some very good players who can affect the game at any moment,” said Sandhu. “We want to make sure that we step up on this occasion and get the win.”

Gavin Lee, appointed interim head coach in June, is yet to win a match with Singapore, having drawn against Myanmar (1-1) and lost against Malaysia (1-2) last month.

The Lions, however, will be boosted by the return of captain and defender Hariss Harun, who was injured for the friendlies against Malaysia and Myanmar in September.

Singapore also boasts some firepower up front based in overseas leagues. The most notable is forward Ikhsan Fandi, who has 21 international goals from 41 caps. The 26-year-old, who plays for Ratchaburi FC in the Thai League 1, has yet to score for his club in six matches.

Another overseas prospect, 19-year-old Jonan Tan, who plays for Vizela FC in the U23 national league of Portugal, has earned his maiden Lions call-up.

Seven players from the 26 probables called up by Lee are from Lion City Sailors, who currently top the league, suggesting that Lee has opted for in-form players to tackle India’s threat.