Indian squad named for AFC Asian Cup 2027 final round match

Indian senior men's national football team head coach Khalid Jamil has named a 23-member squad for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 final round match against Hong Kong, China, scheduled on March 31, 2026, in Kochi

Hyderabad: Indian senior men’s national team head coach Khalid Jamil has named a 23-member squad for the last match of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers final round against Hong Kong, China, to be held on March 31, 2026.

The Blue Tigers will begin their camp in Kochi on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, where 20 players, along with the staff, have assembled. Defender Anwar Ali, midfielder Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, and forward Edmund Lalrindika, who played their last Indian Super League 2025-26 match against Mohammedan Sporting Club on Monday, March 23, will join the squad later on Tuesday.

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With India already ruled out of qualification for the Asian Cup, the match will serve as preparation for the future. Head coach Khalid Jamil said, “This is a good opportunity for us to build for the future. We have many promising players coming through, who are currently with the U20 and U23 national teams, playing in the SAFF U20 Championship in Maldives and the U23 Tri-Nation in Arunachal Pradesh. Our assistant coach Mahesh is leading the U20s, which will help familiarise them with the system we have in place here with the senior team.”

Squad:

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