India have named a 23-man squad for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in 2027

Indian men’s national team head coach Khalid Jamil has named a 23-member squad for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round Group C clash against Singapore. The Blue Tigers will face the hosts at the National Stadium in Singapore on October 9, with kickoff scheduled at 17:00 IST.

The squad, finalised on Sunday (October 5), has been training in Bengaluru since September 20 as part of preparations for the crucial double-header. Following the away tie, India will host Singapore in the return leg on October 14 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa, with kickoff at 19:30 IST.

The team is set to depart for Singapore on Monday, October 6, and will arrive later in the evening.

India find themselves under pressure in Group C, sitting at the bottom with just one point from two matches. In contrast, Singapore lead the group with four points from as many games. Only the group winners will advance directly to the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, leaving the Blue Tigers with little margin for



error.

Jamil stressed the importance of focusing solely on the immediate challenge. “We are not looking at the overall picture at the moment. There are still four matches to go, and the next one against Singapore is the most important for us right now,” he said before the team’s departure. “We cannot look too far ahead – we must go one step at a time.”

While 23 players have been named for the away match, Jamil has kept two more – goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari and forward Muhammed Suhail – in reserve for the home fixture in Goa. “Though we are travelling with 23 players, we are constantly monitoring the rest. For now, Hrithik and Suhail have been kept on standby for the two matches against Singapore,” the coach added.

India will be aiming to turn their campaign around with a strong performance in Singapore, before shifting focus to the home leg, where the support of the Goa crowd could prove crucial. With qualification hopes still alive, Jamil’s men face a must-win stretch as the Asian Cup road intensifies.