Latest news with #FIFAWorldCupQualifiers
Time of India
6 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
AIFF confirms Khalid Jamil handed two-year contract as India manager, steps down as Jamshedpur FC boss
Khalid Jamil will begin his first training camp on August 15 at the Dravid-Padukone Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru (Image via X/@IndianFootball) Khalid Jamil has been named the new head coach of the Indian Senior Men's National Football Team on a two-year contract, with the option of extending for another year, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced on Wednesday. He becomes the first Indian to take charge of the men's side since Savio Medeira in 2012. The manager has mutually parted ways with ISL club Jamshedpur FC. A former India international midfielder, Jamil earned 15 caps for the national team, making his debut at the 1997 SAFF Championship in Nepal, which India won. He also represented the country in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and the 2001 Merdeka Tournament. At club level, he played for Mahindra United, Air India and Mumbai FC, winning the National Football League, two Federation Cups and two IFA Shields. He also lifted the Santosh Trophy with Maharashtra in 1999. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Jamil's coaching career spans several Indian Super League and I-League teams, including Jamshedpur FC, NorthEast United FC, East Bengal FC, Mohun Bagan AC, Mumbai FC and Aizawl FC. His most celebrated achievement came in 2016-17 when he led Aizawl FC to a historic I-League title. More recently, he guided Jamshedpur FC to the final of the Kalinga Super Cup 2025, and the semi-finals of the ISL Play-offs 2024/25 and the Kalinga Super Cup 2024. Khalid Jamil (white) of India clears the ball ahead of Jordao (No.29) of West Brom during the Pre-Season Friendly match at The Hawthorns, in Birmingham, England in 2000 (Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill/Allsport) The 48-year-old will work exclusively with the national team in a full-time capacity. His first training camp begins on August 15 at the Dravid-Padukone Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru, with the list of players to be announced soon. His opening assignment will be the CAFA Nations Cup, where India face hosts Tajikistan (August 29), IR Iran (September 1) and Afghanistan (September 4) in Group B. Looking ahead to the challenge, Jamil told AIFF, 'I am both deeply proud and immensely privileged to have been entrusted with the responsibility of leading our national team. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to train Indian players, and I've grown to understand their strengths and weaknesses intimately. These insights will be fundamental to everything we do as we prepare for the CAFA Nations Cup and the upcoming crucial Asian Cup Qualifiers against Singapore. ' Poll What is your opinion on Khalid Jamil being appointed as the head coach of the Indian Senior Men's National Football Team? Excited about the change Skeptical about his experience Supportive of an Indian coach India will play Singapore in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers on October 9 and 14. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
eNCA
11-06-2025
- Sport
- eNCA
Bafana tame Mambas in international friendly
JOHANNESBURG - Bafana Bafana wrapped up the Fifa international week with a comfortable victory over Mozambique. The home side wasted several excellent goal-scoring opportunities in a one-sided encounter at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane last night. It took until the second half before they broke the deadlock. Sinoxolo Kwayiba headed home the opening goal before substitute Ashley Cupido added an emphatic second goal to secure a deserved triumph over the Mambas. It's a morale-boosting result for Hugo Broos and Co ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, after they were held to a stalemate by Tanzania at the same venue last Friday.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
India gears up for Hong Kong test in AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers
Seeking its first win in the tournament, India and Hong Kong, the top two-ranked sides in the four-team group, will face each other in a crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 round three qualifier match in Hong Kong, China on Tuesday. India, ranked 127, got off to a slow start with a draw against Bangladesh in March, while Hong Kong, China, ranked 153, could also only manage a point in Singapore. It will be India and Hong Kong, China's 25th meeting since their first in 1951 — India leads the head-to-head with nine wins, Hong Kong, China has eight, while seven have been draws. However, the Blue Tigers have won only once on Hong Kong, China soil, a 2-1 friendly victory in 1957. The previous meeting in 2022 went India's way as the visitor suffered a 4-0 drubbing in a rain-lashed Asian Cup qualifier in Kolkata. Since August 2024, Hong Kong, China has been coached by Ashley Westwood, a familiar name in Indian football. The Englishman led Bengaluru FC from 2013 to 2016 and also took charge of ATK and RoundGlass Punjab FC later. He also coached the Afghanistan side that defeated India in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers last year. Under Westwood, Hong Kong, China has only lost once in 12 matches — 0-1 to Liechtenstein in a friendly. But only two wins have come against higher-ranked opponents, Solomon Islands and the Philippines (both friendlies). In preparation for the match against India, Hong Kong, China played a non-official friendly against Manchester United FC, which it lost 1-3 on May 30, and then a FIFA friendly against Nepal on June 5, which was a scoreless affair. The game also marks the inaugural football match at the 50,000 seater Kai Tak Stadium, part of the Kai Tak Sports Park, the largest sports complex in Hong Kong.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Four Inter Milan Stars Will Be In Italy Squad For FIFA World Cup Qualifiers – Acerbi Only Included On One Condition
Four Inter Milan Stars Will Be In Italy Squad For FIFA World Cup Qualifiers – Acerbi Only Included On One Condition There are four Inter Milan players in the Italy squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers, whilst Francesco Acerbi will be in on one condition. This according to today's print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews. Advertisement The club season is only just coming to an end. It has been a dramatic conclusion which saw Inter Milan miss out to the Serie A title to Napoli on the final day of the season. Meanwhile, the Nerazzurri will face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final next Saturday. Then, next month, Inter will play in the expanded Club World Cup in the United States. They will be one of two teams representing Serie A in the competition along with Juventus. However, there is also time for another international break right after the Champions League final. Four Inter Players In Italy Squad – Acerbi On One Condition MILAN, ITALY – MAY 03: Marko Arnautovic and Francesco Acerbi of FC Internazionale at the end of the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Hellas Verona FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 03, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by) There will be four players from the Inter Milan squad who shift gears to the national team immediately after the Champions League final. Advertisement The Corriere confirm that Italy coach Luciano Spalletti has called up Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, Nicolo Barella, and Davide Frattesi. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma will also be in the Azzurri setup. Then, there is the possibility of a fifth Nerazzurri player being part of the Italy camp. The Corriere report that Francesco Acerbi is the first name in reserve in defense. Aside from Bastoni, Spalletti has called up Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori, Napoli's Alessandro Buongiorno, and Fiorentina's Pietro Comuzzo. Therefore, if any of those pull out, then Francesco Acerbi will be in the Italy squad.
CAF
23-03-2025
- Sport
- CAF
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Five matches to look out for in Match Day 6 of qualifiers
Match Day 6 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers officially get underway on Sunday, 23 March following an exciting close to MD 5 on Saturday. CAFOnline highlights five key encounters to look out for in MD 6. GROUP I: Madagascar vs. Ghana Ghana, fresh off a 5-0 victory over Chad in the previous round, leads Group I with 12 points and will travel to face Madagascar, who sit in second place with 10 points. The winner of this match will take the lead and edge closer to qualifying for the global showpiece. GROUP C: Benin vs. South Africa Group C of the qualifiers will witness an exciting duel between the leaders, South Africa, and second-placed Benin. Benin, the host, will aim for three points to top the group while the Southern African nation aims to widen their gap at the top which currently sits at two points. GROUP D: Cameroon vs. Libya Cameroon will aim to close the gap Group D leaders, Cape Verde as they find themselves second behind them with just a point separating them, when they face Libya, who is directly behind in third place with 8 points. A win will be vital for the Indomitable Lions if they are to stay on track towards World Cup qualification, despite the tough task ahead against a strong and resilient Libyan team. GROUP G: Algeria vs. Mozambique Algeria shares the top spot in Group G with Mozambique, both having 12 points, with Algeria having the advantage. The three points in this match are highly significant for both teams, as the winner will take sole possession of the top spot and move closer to qualification. GROUP A: Egypt vs. Sierra Leone Egypt, who lead Group A with 13 points, will face Sierra Leone, who are in second place, tied with Burkina Faso on 8 points. This match is crucial for Egypt's World Cup journey, as their path to qualification could hinge on the outcome of this match. Sierra Leone, on the other hand, will look to end Egypt's winning streak in the qualifiers and reduce the gap by two points if they can secure victory in Egypt.
