The Indian men’s football team, popularly known as the Blue Tigers, will play two international friendly matches against Tajikistan during the June FIFA International Window, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced on Tuesday.
The matches are scheduled to be held on June 5 and June 9 at the Hisor Central Stadium in Hisor, Tajikistan, with both fixtures set to kick off at 8:30 PM IST.
India are currently in London participating in the Unity Cup 2026, where they will take on Jamaica in the semi-final before facing either Nigeria or Zimbabwe in the final or third-place playoff. After completing their campaign in England, the team will travel directly to Tajikistan on May 31 for the two-match series.
The upcoming friendlies are expected to play a crucial role in head coach Khalid Jamil’s preparations for future international competitions, including the SAFF Championship later this year.
India will also return to familiar surroundings in Hisor, where the Blue Tigers enjoyed success during the CAFA Nations Cup eight months ago. On that occasion, India defeated Tajikistan 2-1 to secure the bronze medal, marking Khalid Jamil’s first victory as national team coach.
Tajikistan, currently ranked significantly higher than India in the FIFA rankings, are expected to provide a stern test for the Blue Tigers as the squad continues its rebuilding phase following the disappointment of missing out on qualification for the AFC Asian Cup.
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