Football

AFC Asian Cup: All you need to know about India’s opening game against Australia

Team India were one of the most dominant sides in Asia last year and would look to start the tournament with a bang.

Published on

January 13, 2024

On Saturday, January 13, India will play Australia in the AFC Asian Cup opening match in Qatar. This matchup is a rematch from the 2011 AFC Asian Cup opening-day match. In that game, Australia won 4-0 with a brace from Tim Cahill. After , both teams have experienced substantial growth, and would be keen to get off to a fast start.

In addition, India will be taking part in Asia’s most prestigious competition for the first time ever, making this a historic occasion. Even though they start as the underdogs during the match, Igor Stimac’s team will take on the challenge instead of backing down from it.

The Blue Tigers began 2023 with an 11-game winning run and went on to capture three trophies throughout their very successful season. Despite the fact that losses to Malaysia and Qatar hindered their progress, India is going into the match with optimism.

Australia, meanwhile, has won four straight games, including resounding triumphs against Palestine and Bangladesh during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament. In a friendly encounter, they also defeated Bahrain 2-0 to further strengthen their position in the Asian Cup.

Under the tutelage of head coach Graham Arnold, the Socceroos are unquestionably one of the favorites to win the Asian Cup and are capable of competing at the greatest level. Even though they are overwhelming favourites in this match, Arnold and his group will be on the lookout for any threats from their rivals.

Australia is 25th according to the FIFA rankings, Indian football would benefit greatly from a victory against a top side. There is no doubt about the mindset of the Blue Tigers, it has been execution that needs to be done perfectly. A win would surely be on their mind before the whistle blows for the match.