The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced on Wednesday that India will face Malaysia in an international friendly on November 18 at Hyderabad’s Gachibowli Stadium. The match, initially slated for November 19, will take place during the upcoming FIFA international window, offering fans a glimpse of competitive action before key qualifiers next year.
India, currently ranked 125th in FIFA’s global standings, will look to redeem itself against Malaysia, ranked slightly lower at 133rd. The two sides last met in October during the Merdeka Cup semifinals in Kuala Lumpur, where Malaysia defeated India 4-2 in a hard-fought match. This friendly provides the Blue Tigers an opportunity to even the score and gain valuable practice as they build up to future tournaments.
The game will also mark a return to Hyderabad’s Gachibowli Stadium for India’s national team. The venue hosted the Intercontinental Cup in September, where India’s performance was mixed—a goalless draw against Mauritius and a 3-0 defeat to Syria. Head coach Manolo Marquez will aim to improve on those results as he continues to refine the squad’s tactics and cohesion.
Since the Merdeka Cup, India’s latest outing was an away match against Vietnam on October 12, where the Blue Tigers managed a 1-1 draw. The match demonstrated India’s resilience, as they held their own against a higher-ranked opponent, showing glimpses of solid defense and effective counter-attacks. Marquez hopes to build on this performance, using the Malaysia game as a crucial warm-up.
This upcoming clash against Malaysia will test India’s defensive strategies and goal-scoring capabilities. For fans, the friendly is a chance to see young talents in action.
Meanwhile, Marquez is expected to experiment with his lineup, possibly giving opportunities to emerging players from the Indian Super League (ISL) who could strengthen the squad ahead of World Cup and AFC qualifiers.
Tickets are expected to draw strong interest, with Hyderabad’s football fan base eager to support their team on home soil. The fixture adds to the AIFF’s recent efforts to bolster India’s international presence by organizing more friendlies and competitive matches against a variety of international opponents.
The November 18 match against Malaysia offers India a chance to reset and focus, while fans will be hoping to see an improved Blue Tigers side on the road to higher international standings.
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