India, Hong Kong eye first win in Asian Cup Qualifiers

Two top-ranked teams in the four-team Group C, India and Hong Kong, clash on the second matchday of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers final round on June 10 for the first win of their campaign

Hyderabad: Two top-ranked teams in the four-team Group C, India and Hong Kong, clash on the second matchday of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers final round on June 10 for the first win of their campaign.

Placed in Pot 1 for the qualifiers, India, ranked 127th, got off to a slow start with a draw against Bangladesh in March. Meanwhile, Pot 2 side Hong Kong, ranked 153, could also only manage a point in Singapore, meaning there is still nothing to separate the four sides after the first matchday.

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For Hong Kong, June 10 will be a historic date. The game is not only a crucial qualifier in their search for only a second AFC Asian Cup berth in 59 years, but also the inaugural football match at the 50,000-seater Kai Tak Stadium, part of the Kai Tak Sports Park, the largest sports complex in Hong Kong.

Featuring a retractable roof and constructed at a cost of HK$30 billion at the site of the city’s former airport, the stadium even features a flexible pitch system for other sports and entertainment events.
It will be India and Hong Kong’s 25th meeting since their first in 1951. India lead the head-to-head with nine wins, Hong Kong have eight, while seven have been draws. However, the Blue Tigers have won only once on Hong Kong soil — a 2-1 friendly victory in 1957.

The previous meeting in 2022 is still fresh in the memories of many — a 4-0 drubbing in a rain-lashed Asian Cup qualifier in Kolkata.

Since August 2024, Hong Kong have been coached by Ashley Westwood, a familiar name in Indian football. The Englishman led Bengaluru FC from 2013 to 2016 and also took charge of ATK and RoundGlass Punjab FC later. He also coached the Afghanistan side that defeated India in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers last year.

Under Westwood, Hong Kong have only lost once in 12 matches — 0-1 to Liechtenstein in a friendly. But only two wins have come against higher-ranked opponents, Solomon Islands and Philippines (both friendlies).

In preparation for the match against India, Hong Kong played a non-official friendly against Manchester United FC that they lost 1-3 on May 30, and then a FIFA friendly against Nepal on June 5, which was a scoreless affair.