India Set to Face Malaysia in International Friendly on November 18
New Delhi: After a challenging start under chief coach Manolo Marquez, the Indian men’s football team is gearing up to face Malaysia in an international friendly match scheduled for November 18, 2024, at Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad. This announcement was made by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on October 30, marking an important opportunity for the team to seek their first win under Marquez’s leadership.
Initially slated for November 19, the match date was moved up by one day, coinciding with the final FIFA international match window of the year, running from November 11-19. During this period, clubs are required to release players for national duty, ensuring that the best squad can compete.
Gachibowli Stadium, which recently hosted the Intercontinental Cup tournament, will serve as the venue for this much-anticipated clash. In the previous tournament, India faced mixed results, including a goalless draw against Mauritius and a loss to Syria, the eventual champions.
In their last outing on October 12, India drew 1-1 with Vietnam in another friendly. The upcoming match against Malaysia will mark Marquez’s fourth game in charge, and he will be keen to secure a victory against a lower-ranked opponent. Malaysia currently holds the 133rd position in the FIFA rankings, while India is slightly ahead at 125th.
The last encounter between the two teams took place in October 2023 during the Merdeka Cup semifinal, where India fell short, losing 2-4. With high stakes for the team and the coach, this friendly presents a critical chance to build momentum and confidence as they head into future competitions.
