Manolo Marquez Engages with AIFF Leadership Focusing on Asian Cup 2027 Objectives
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New Delhi, Dec 8 (NationPress) The head coach of the India Senior Men’s National Team, Manolo Marquez, was present in the capital for two days on December 5 and 6, conducting a series of meetings at the Football House concerning India’s preparations for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
“For two days, I had productive discussions with the AIFF President, senior officials, and technical team members of the AIFF. I am confident that with the preparations we have outlined, the National Team will perform strongly in the Asian Cup qualifiers,” stated Marquez to AIFF.com.
Alongside meeting with AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, the 56-year-old Spanish coach also engaged with members of the Technical Committee, AIFF Technical Director Syed Sabir Pasha, and the AIFF scouting team.
“The qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup is our primary goal. The AIFF will adhere to the plan proposed by the head coach,” remarked the AIFF President.
On Monday, December 9, the draw for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round is set to take place at 12:30 pm IST. India is positioned in Pot 1 for this draw, which will categorize 24 teams into six groups of four. The matches will follow a round-robin structure, played on a home-and-away basis, from March 2025 to March 2026. According to the schedule, India, as a Pot 1 team, will kick off their campaign on March 25, 2024, at home against a Pot 4 team.
Marquez has proposed a longer preparatory camp leading up to India’s AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers campaign starting on March 25. After consulting with its marketing partners, the AIFF believes that the National camp could commence on March 14, just two days following the conclusion of the last league match in the Indian Super League 2024-25 season.
