The Indian men’s football team, under the guidance of head coach Manolo Marquez, will face Malaysia in an international friendly on November 18 in Hyderabad. The match, initially scheduled for November 19, has been advanced by a day and will be played at the Gachibowli Stadium.
This will be Marquez’s fourth match in charge of the national team, and he will be eager to secure a victory against a lower-ranked opponent. Malaysia currently sits at 133rd in the FIFA rankings, while India occupies the 125th spot.
The last encounter between the two teams took place in October 2023 in the Merdeka Cup semifinal, where India suffered a 2-4 defeat.
The November 18 match falls within the last FIFA international match window of the year, which mandates clubs to release players for national duty.
The Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad recently hosted the three-team Intercontinental Cup tournament, where India drew 0-0 with Mauritius and lost 0-3 to eventual champions Syria. The team then traveled to Vietnam for an international friendly, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Marquez will be looking to improve India’s recent form, having failed to secure a win in his first three matches in charge. The match against Malaysia will provide an opportunity for the team to gain momentum and build confidence ahead of future challenges.
