India vs Tajikistan June 2025: Blue Tigers to play two friendlies at Hisor
Synopsis
Fresh off the Unity Cup in London, India's football team heads to Tajikistan for two back-to-back friendlies on 5 and 9 June — returning to the same Hisor ground where Khalid Jamil won his first game in charge and the Blue Tigers claimed CAFA bronze. It is a rare double-header that gives the coach room to experiment before World Cup qualifiers loom.
Key Takeaways
India will play Tajikistan twice — on 5 June and 9 June — at the Hisor Central Stadium , Hisor, during the June FIFA International Match Window.
Both matches kick off at 8:30 PM IST ; the venue is the same ground where India beat Tajikistan 2-1 in the CAFA Nations Cup.
The squad departs London on 31 May after completing the Unity Cup 2026 campaign, which includes a semi-final vs Jamaica on 27 May.
The friendlies mark India's return to Central Asian conditions and are part of preparations for World Cup qualification assignments.
Head coach Khalid Jamil took charge for the first time at this same venue during last year's CAFA Nations Cup, where India won the bronze medal .
The Indian men's football team will play two international friendly matches against Tajikistan on 5 June and 9 June at the Hisor Central Stadium in Hisor, Tajikistan, during the June FIFA International Match Window, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed on Tuesday, 26 May. Both fixtures are scheduled to kick off at 8:30 PM IST.
How India Gets There
The Blue Tigers are currently competing in the Unity Cup 2026 in London, where they face Jamaica in the semi-final on 27 May, followed by a final or third-place playoff against either Nigeria or Zimbabwe on 30 May. The squad will depart London for Tajikistan on 31 May, giving the side a brief turnaround before the first friendly.
A Familiar Venue With Fond Memories
The Hisor Central Stadium holds particular significance for Indian football. During the CAFA Nations Cup last year, India made their debut appearance in the Central Asian competition and claimed the bronze medal. A standout result from that campaign was a 2-1 victory over Tajikistan at the very same ground — a match that also doubled as the first game in charge for head coach Khalid Jamil.
What the AIFF Says
The federation views the back-to-back friendlies as a meaningful block of preparation time. According to the AIFF, the fixtures will give the national team valuable international exposure and help the coaching staff build combinations ahead of future continental competitions and World Cup qualification assignments. Playing twice against the same opponent in the same conditions is expected to allow Jamil to test tactical variations across both games.
Match Schedule
5 June — Tajikistan vs India, 8:30 PM IST, Hisor Central Stadium
9 June — Tajikistan vs India, 8:30 PM IST, Hisor Central Stadium
With Tajikistan representing a side India have beaten before — but on a ground that demands acclimatisation to Central Asian conditions — the two-match series will serve as a practical gauge of where Jamil's squad stands ahead of a busy competitive calendar.
Point of View
But the logic is sound: India are building squad depth for World Cup qualification, and Central Asian conditions are genuinely different from what the Blue Tigers encounter at home. The more interesting question is what Khalid Jamil does with the back-to-back format — whether he uses the second game to rotate or to reinforce a settled first XI. The CAFA bronze and the 2-1 win over Tajikistan gave Indian football a rare feel-good moment; the June window is a test of whether that momentum has translated into a more consistent identity under Jamil.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where will India play Tajikistan in the June FIFA window?
India will face Tajikistan on 5 June and 9 June 2025 at the Hisor Central Stadium in Hisor, Tajikistan, with both matches kicking off at 8:30 PM IST. The fixtures were confirmed by the All India Football Federation on 26 May.
Why is India playing two friendlies against Tajikistan?
The AIFF has scheduled the back-to-back friendlies to give the national team international exposure and help coach Khalid Jamil build combinations ahead of World Cup qualification and future continental competitions. Playing the same opponent twice in the same conditions allows for tactical experimentation across both games.
What is India's schedule before the Tajikistan friendlies?
India are competing in the Unity Cup 2026 in London, with a semi-final against Jamaica on 27 May and a final or third-place playoff against Nigeria or Zimbabwe on 30 May. The squad departs London for Tajikistan on 31 May.
What is India's history at the Hisor Central Stadium?
India have a positive record at the Hisor Central Stadium. During last year's CAFA Nations Cup — the team's debut in the competition — India beat Tajikistan 2-1 at the same venue and went on to claim the bronze medal. That match was also Khalid Jamil's first game as head coach.
Who is the head coach of the Indian football team?
Khalid Jamil is the head coach of the Indian men's football team. His first match in charge was against Tajikistan at the Hisor Central Stadium during the CAFA Nations Cup, a game India won 2-1.
