India vs Maldives: Live streaming, TV channel, kick-off time & where to watch international friendly

India are looking to secure their first win under Manolo Marquez

Sunil Chhetri will spearhead the Indian football team once again on Wednesday as India face the Maldives in an international friendly at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. This is the Blue Tigers’ first international game in 2025 and they will be looking for a win given that they ended 2024 winless.

Manolo Marquez joined the team as the head coach in July 2024. The Blue Tigers secured three draws and one loss under the Spaniard in his first four games. Following the game against Maldives, Blue Tigers will play Bangladesh in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup – round three qualifiers. Hence the coach will be looking to finalize his playing XI before the big game.

The Blue Tigers return to action and now for the first time in Shillong! Will Sunil Chhetri guide his men to yet another win?#IndianFootball #IndianFootballTeam #BlueTigers #IndiavsMaldives pic.twitter.com/elPLFl9Bsf

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) March 19, 2025

Maldives themselves played Bangladesh in two friendly games in November 2024, winning one and losing the other game. Their forward Ali Fasir scored in both the games against the Bengal Tigers and hence he would be the player to watch for the visitors.

What are the current FIFA rankings for India and Maldives?

The Indian national football team is currently ranked 126th in the latest FIFA Rankings. Maldives on the other hand are ranked 162nd, 36 positions behind the Blue Tigers in the recent FIFA Ranking.

Blue Tigers were among the top 100 teams for a brief time in 2023. However, a winless streak in 2024 tanked their ranking, which saw them drop down the FIFA Rankings. Manolo Marquez would be looking to reverse this by helping his side register some important wins that could also help them qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

Head-to-head record between India and Maldives

The two South Asian nations have played 21 games against each other in their history. This includes four meetings in the SAFF Championship final, where Blue Tigers have won twice and the Maldives football team has won the final twice.

Overall, India has a big advantage in this rivalry, picking up 15 wins over the Red Snappers. Maldives have won the match four times whereas the game ended in a draw on two occasions. Going into today’s encounter, India will be the favourites playing at home.

Where to watch the India vs Maldives game in India?

The friendly game between India and Maldives will kick off at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on 19th March 2025 (Wednesday) at 7 pm IST. Star Sports 3 will broadcast the game on television.

The fans can also watch the match on Jio Hotstar live today. You can also follow Khel Now TV’s Watch Along with our in-house experts on YouTube.

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