India to play international friendlies against Saudi Arabia and China ahead of AFC Asian Cup
The Indian football team will take on higher-ranked sides like Saudi Arabia and China in the lead up to the next year's AFC Asian Cup, a top official of the AIFF revealed today. The 2019 AFC Asian Cup will be held from January 5 to February 1 across eight centers in the United Arab Emirates.
The recently-concluded Intercontinental Cup was a wonderful practice tournament for India when Sunil Chhetri’s brilliance helped them win the tournament and his plea on Twitter garnered many followers from all over the country. While many thought the tournament would end up being a one-time thing,
AIFF has decided to give more practice to the national team and this time by arranging international friendlies against with higher-ranked teams like Saudi Arabia and China in the run-up to next year's AFC Asian Cup.
"We are in talks with them and it's almost 90 percent. We are trying to arrange one home and one away game around October-November," AIFF general secretary Kushal Das told PTI.
Saudi Arabia, who are now participating in the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Russia, are currently ranked 67 while China are placed 75th. Das also added they are looking to arrange matches for the national team keeping in line with FIFA's changed ranking system.
The upcoming edition of the Asian Cup will be held from January 5 to February 1 across eight centers in four United Arab Emirates cities in which India are clubbed with UAE, Thailand, and Bahrain in Group A.