Who will India face in AFC Asian Cup 2027 Round 3?

The Blues Tigers will be hoping to end their winless drought and qualify for the tournament.

As India begins its journey to the AFC Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia, Manolo Marquez’s men will be keen to prove themselves in Round 3 of the qualifiers. Playing in Group C, India will be facing Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Singapore in a round-robin format spread across home and away fixtures.

Having received a favorable draw, the Blue Tigers will be looking to stamp their authority in the group and make a statement by securing qualification for the 2027 tournament. Let’s take a look at their opponents and what to expect from the upcoming campaign starting in March 2025.

Blue Tigers’ opponents in Group C

Bangladesh

The Blue Tigers’ southern neighbor, Bangladesh, are ranked 185th in the latest FIFA rankings and are one of the underdog teams in this group. While they are the lowest-ranked team in the group, the team has often put up spirited performances.

With an emphasis on a disciplined defensive setup, they will be a frustrating side for India and might even capitalize on counterattacking opportunities that may present.

On the basis of an all-time head-to-head record, India has won four games against Bangladesh, while drawing 4 games in 8 meetings. However, underestimating Bangladesh could prove costly for India, who drew 1-1 in their last encounter during the 2021 SAFF Championships.

Hong Kong

Ranked 156th in the latest FIFA rankings, Hong Kong could be another tricky fixture for Manolo Marquez and his men in Group C. Known for their physicality and well-organized defensive play, Hong Kong hold the potential to challenge India for the top spot.

Having played each other 16 times over the years, India holds a promising record against Hong Kong with eight wins, four draws and four losses.

Their most recent encounter came in June 2022 during the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, where the Blues Tigers walked out 4-0 winners.

ALSO READ: AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers 2027 Round 3: Full groups & teams

Singapore

Singapore ranked 161st in the latest FIFA rankings, will be another team that the Blues Tigers will be wary about facing during the qualifiers.

While they may not be an opponent as strong as Hong Kong, the team holds a great mix of experienced and young players. Singapore will be a dark horse team in this group capable of producing moments of brilliance and surprising their doubters.

India will face Singapore in back-to-back fixtures in October 2025, which could prove to be a decisive run of games in their hopes of qualification. In terms of the all-time head-to-head record, India has a losing record against Singapore with four wins, two draws and seven losses in 13 previous meetings.

Being the 127th ranked team in the FIFA rankings, the Blue Tigers are the favorites to top Group C. Winning the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers will be their first step towards booking their spot in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 tournament scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia.

Led by head coach Manolo Marquez, the Blue Tigers have shown a patchy run of form in 2024. Following the retirement of Sunil Chhetri, the Spaniard has been appointed to guide emerging talents like Anwar Ali and Thoiba Singh to perform on the brightest stage.

Here's a look at Indian football team's fixtures for the final round of AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers 2027 🔥👀#IndianFootball #AFCAsianCup2027 pic.twitter.com/uthjcypmHI

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) December 9, 2024

The Blue Tigers’ fixtures in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round:

• March 25, 2025: India vs Bangladesh (Home)
• June 10, 2025: Hong Kong vs India (Away)
• October 9, 2025: India vs Singapore (Home)
• October 14, 2025: Singapore vs India (Away)
• November 18, 2025: Bangladesh vs India (Away)
• March 31, 2026: India vs Hong Kong (Home)

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