Hyderabad: The Indian men’s football team, winless in three matches under coach Manolo Marquez, is set to face Malaysia in an international friendly on November 18 at Hyderabad’s Gachibowli Stadium, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced today. Originally scheduled for November 19, the match was advanced by a day, finalizing Gachibowli Stadium as the venue.
This match falls within FIFA’s international match window from November 11 to 19, allowing national teams to call up players regardless of club commitments. The friendly will be Manolo Marquez’s fourth match as head coach and offers him a chance to secure his first win against a lower-ranked team. India stands at 125th in FIFA rankings, with Malaysia closely behind at 133rd.
India’s recent international outings have been challenging, including a goalless draw against Mauritius and a 0-3 defeat to Syria in Hyderabad’s Intercontinental Cup last month. Their October friendly match against Vietnam ended in a 1-1 draw.
The upcoming match against Malaysia is a chance for India to improve its performance, following a 2-4 loss in their last encounter in the 2023 Merdeka Cup semifinals.
With a supportive home crowd expected, Manolo Marquez and his team will aim for a win to close out the year on a positive note.
