Can India Still Qualify for the AFC Asian Cup 2027?

Kowloon (Hong Kong), June 11 (NationPress) India head coach Manolo Márquez remains optimistic about the team's chances for qualification to the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, despite the men's football team's disheartening 0-1 loss to Hong Kong, China on Tuesday.

A penalty in the 94th minute, taken by substitute Stefan Pereira, left India with only one point from two matches in Group C. Following Singapore's victory over Bangladesh (2-1) in Dhaka, Márquez's squad now finds itself at the bottom of the group, having yet to score a goal. Only the top team from the group will secure a spot in the AFC Asian Cup.

Despite increasing pressure, Márquez stated, “I still believe that India has a chance to qualify. Naturally, we feel disheartened. The dressing room feels like a funeral. Yet, we are still in the competition.”

The Spanish coach emphasized the need for unity and calmness, pointing out that the team has four more group matches remaining, with the upcoming double-header against Singapore scheduled for October 9 and 14. They aim to qualify for a third consecutive Asian Cup. “This group is quite competitive. Bangladesh, Singapore, Hong Kong, and India — any team can win against another. We are still in the game. There’s everything to play for,” he said.

The match, held in front of a passionate crowd of 42,570 at the newly opened Kai Tak Stadium, was closely contested. Both teams had limited opportunities, and Márquez acknowledged that the outcome was likely to hinge on a narrow margin. “It was a typical match where you lose when you're struggling. It was essentially a game devoid of chances,” he commented. “The best opportunity was for Ashique Kuruniyan in the first half, followed by a penalty for Hong Kong during injury time.”

India, having drawn 0-0 with Bangladesh in their opening match, again failed to find the net. Including the 0-2 loss to Thailand last week, the Blue Tigers are now on a three-match scoreless streak — a situation Márquez deemed worrying, but not irretrievable.

“Such occurrences happen in football. It’s not solely a national team issue. You might go five or six matches without scoring, only to suddenly net four in one game,” he explained. “We often discuss the need for more Indian strikers. However, I have no negative comments about the players. Their effort, attitude, and strategy were commendable.”

The coach underscored that his team maintained discipline and structure throughout the match. However, he highlighted the necessity of cultivating mental resilience to secure results, especially in challenging times. “Sometimes, if you can’t secure a win, knowing how to draw is crucial,” he stated. “We aim for victory, but we need to avoid losing games like this, particularly in the dying minutes.”

India's remaining matches include home and away fixtures against Singapore (October 9 and 14), an away game against Bangladesh (November 18), and a home fixture against Hong Kong, China (March 31, 2026).