Indian football coach Manolo Marquez has once again shown his confidence in legendary striker Sunil Chhetri, naming the 40-year-old in the 28-member probables squad for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Final Round qualifiers. Chhetri, who had initially retired after a stellar career spanning more than two decades, made a comeback to the national team to help India in their crucial qualifiers against Bangladesh and a friendly against the Maldives.
India is placed in Group C of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers alongside Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The Blue Tigers will next face Hong Kong on June 10 at the Kai Tak Sports Park in Kowloon City. After two draws in their first two matches, all four teams in the group are currently tied with one point each, making the upcoming fixtures even more critical.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced that the probables squad will assemble in Kolkata on May 18 for a 10-day training camp. From there, the team will travel to Bangkok for a FIFA International Friendly against Thailand on June 4, before heading to Hong Kong for their qualifier against the host nation.
Here is the list of probable for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier:
Goalkeepers: Hrithik Tiwari, Vishal Kaith, Gurmeet Singh Chahal, Amrinder Singh.
Defenders: Naorem Roshan Singh, Rahul Bheke, Konsham Chinglensana Singh, Anwar Ali, Thangjam Boris Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Asish Rai, Subhasish Bose, Mehtab Singh, Tekcham Abhishek Singh, Nikhil Prabhu.
Midfielders: Suresh Singh Wangjam, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Udanta Singh Kumam, Lalengmawia Ralte, Liston Colaco, Ashique Kuruniyan, Brandon Fernandes.
Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Irfan Yadwad, Manvir Singh, Suhail Ahmad Bhat, Lallianzuala Chhangte.
The training camp in Kolkata will play a pivotal role in preparing the team for the crucial fixtures ahead as they aim to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup 2027. Chhetri’s continued presence will be crucial in guiding the team through these high-stakes matches.
