Where and how to watch India’s AFC Asian Cup 2023 matches for free?

DD Sports will also telecast the semi-finals and final of the AFC Asian Cup.

The 2023 AFC Asian Cup will kick-off in Qatar with the home side taking on Lebanon in the opening fixture. The continental championship will start on January 12, 2024 and will go on until February 10, 2024.

24 teams divided into six groups of four teams each will take on each other in Asia’s flagship tournament. 51 matches will be played in 29 days across nine venues at the home of the defending champions Qatar.

India are in Group B alongside Asian giants Australia, Uzbekistan and Syria. The Blue Tigers come into the tournament as the underdogs as all the other teams in the group are ranked higher than them.

Igor Stimac’s side will open their campaign with a clash against the mighty Australia at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan on Saturday evening. India are missing four key players due to injury, but are expected to present a tough fight against the Socceroos.

Doordarshan to telecast the AFC Asian Cup in India

While Sports 18 and JioCinema have acquired the official broadcasting rights of Asia’s most prominent tournament, India’s national broadcaster Prasar Bharati have announced that Doordarshan (DD) Sports (DD Free Dish) will also broadcast the AFC Asian Cup.

The public service broadcaster will give the viewers a chance to support their national team without having to pay any premium. They will telecast all of India’s group games against Australia on January 13, Uzbekistan on January 18, and Syria on January 23, respectively.

Doordarshan will also broadcast the semi-finals and the final of AFC Asian Cup, giving the viewers a chance to have a glimpse of Asia’s finest footballing talent.

India’s performances at the AFC Asian Cup

India have been a part of the mega event on four occasions prior to the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar. Their best performance came in 1964 when they finished as the runners-up in Israel. 

But since then, they have failed to even make their way past the group stage and have had three disappointing campaigns. However, they were very close to making it out of their group in 2019 had they not conceded a late penalty against Bahrain.

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