The CAFA Nations Cup is a biennial football tournament contested by the countries of Central Asia and is organised by the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA).
India, despite not being part of the CAFA, will participate in the multi-nation tournament on an invitational basis. The Blue Tigers, under the tutelage of new head coach Khalid Jamil, have been clubbed in Group B of the tournament, alongside some of the top teams in Asia, including Iran.
Jamil has picked a balanced squad with a mixture of youth and experience. Veteran goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu returned to the Indian team, while legendary Sunil Chhetri missed out.
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Some of the star players that are missing from this time's India roster are Mohun Bagan players like Listin Colaco, Manvir Singh, Anirudh Thapa and Sahal Abdul Samad, as the ISL champions did not release them due to their AFC Champions League 2 commitments in September.
The Blue Tigers kicked off their campaign on Friday, August 29, against Tajikistan in Hisor, where they registered a spirited 2-1 victory.
They next faced Asian giants Iran in their second group. Jamil and Co. fought hard and kept the scoreline unchanged until the hour mark when the floodgates opened. Iran eventually scored three past Gurpreet Singh to seal a comfortable win.
India still have a chance to qualify for the next round. If they beat Afghanistan and Iran beat Tajikistan, they would finish second in the group and compete in the match for a third-place finish.
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Here's all you need to know about India's schedule in the competition.
CAFA Nations Cup 2025: When is the India vs Afghanistan match?
The India vs Afghanistan match will be played on Thursday, September 4.
CAFA Nations Cup 2025: What time will the India vs Afghanistan start?
The India vs Afghanistan match will kick off at 5:30 p.m. (IST).
READ: CAFA Nations Cup 2025: Indian football team's schedule
CAFA Nations Cup 2025: Where will the India vs Afghanistan match take place?
The India vs Afghanistan match will be played at the Central Stadium, Hisor, Tajikistan.
CAFA Nations Cup 2025: Which TV channel will telecast the match between India and Afghanistan?
The India vs Afghanistan match will not be telecast live on Television.
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CAFA Nations Cup 2025: How to livestream the India vs Afghanistan match online from India?
The India vs Afghanistan match can be streamed live on the Fancode App and website, on a subscription basis.
| Match | TV channel | Online live stream |
| India vs Afghanistan | N/A | FanCode App/Website |