GUWAHATI: The Indian football team is set to play against Australia in their AFC Asian Cup group match on January 13.
Sunil Chhetri-led Indian football team has to compete with teams like Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria in Group B to seal a knockout berth in the AFC Asian Cup. On Saturday, they will be taking on the Aussies who are currently 25th in rankings. India previously was eliminated from the 2011 and 2019 editions of the group stages of the AFC.
After Australia, they will face Uzbekistan on January 18. Also, to make it to the next round, the Indian side might have to wait for a win against Syria which might put them in third place in the group.
The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed sides from across six groups, progress to the knockout round of 16. India had beaten Syria in the past in the 2007 and 2009 Nehru Cup tournaments.
India will match up against Syria on January 23 which also will be a crucial fixture for the team to determine their place in the knockout stages.