Indian football fans will be rooting for India as they take on Afghanistan in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025. India will be chasing a second win under new head coach Khalid Jamil to keep their chances for a place in the finals alive or enter the third-place match. This encounter is set to draw plenty of attention from supporters across South Asia and beyond.
India’s Performance at the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 So Far
India began the Khalid Jamal era with a 2-1 win over Tajikistan in India’s first group stage match of the tournament. Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s crucial penalty save secured the Blue Tigers their first win against Tajikistan after 17 long years.
They then faced world No. 17, Iran, in their second group stage game. The Indian team put up a resilient display in an almost David vs. Goliath situation. Iran struggled to break down India’s defence for the majority of the game before scoring off a fluke rebound in the 59th minute. The match ended 3-0; however, their defensive performance does provide promise.
The Build-up for India vs. Afghanistan
The Blue Tigers currently sit second in Group B of the CAFA Nations Cup. According to the CAFA Nations Cup format, the top teams in each group will face off in the finals, and the second-placed teams will compete for third place.
India’s defeat to Iran likely ends India’s chances of reaching the CAFA Nations Cup final. A positive result against Afghanistan, however, means they can still make the third-place match.
Group B Standings
| Rank | Team | Matches Played | W | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iran | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 2 | India | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Tajikistan | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | Afghanistan | 2 | 0 | 0 |
When and where will India vs Afghanistan be played?
The CAFA Nations Cup 2025 match, India vs. Afghanistan, will be played at the Hisor Central Stadium in Hisor, Tajikistan, on Thursday. The game is scheduled to kick off at 5:30 pm IST.
How to watch India vs Afghanistan in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025?
- Broadcast: The CAFA Nations Cup 2025 clash between India and Afghanistan will not be televised in India.
- Live Streaming: The CAFA Nations Cup 2025 clash between India and Afghanistan will be available for live streaming on FanCode.
India Vs. Afghanistan Head-to-Head
India and Afghanistan have faced each other a total of 12 times, with the Blue Tigers emerging victorious more often. However, Afghanistan has won the most recent encounter between the sides.
Head-to-Head
- Total Matches Played – 12
- India Win – 5
- Afghanistan Win – 2
- Draw – 5
Past Five Head-to-Head Records
- FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC): India 1 – 2 Afghanistan
- FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC): Afghanistan 0 – 0 India
- AFC Asian Cup: India 2 – 1 Afghanistan
- FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC): India 1 – 1 Afghanistan
- FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC): Afghanistan 1 – 1 India
Written by: Thillai Ritvik
