India will be travelling to China for the Asian Games 2023, which is being hosted in Hangzhou, across eight different venues. After a long battle, the men's team have been allowed to go to China for the event, with the talismanic Sunil Chhetri, along with Sandesh Jhingan, being allowed to travel with a young squad for the major event.
The men's football competition at the Asian Games is set to commence on September 19 and go on till October 7. Since 2002, the men's football event has allowed U23 teams, with three players over the age of 23 allowed to participate.
This year, 23 teams are vying for the title. They've been categorised into five groups of four and one group of three. The Indian men's football squad finds themselves in Group A, alongside host nation China, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
To progress to the round of 16, teams must either finish in the top two of their respective groups or be among the four best third-placed teams across all groups.
The Republic of Korea, holding five titles, are not only the reigning champions but also the most decorated nation in the Asian Games men's football history. Iran trails closely with four gold medals.
Here are all the groups in the men's football tournament
Group | Teams |
Group A | China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, India |
Group B | Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Mongolia |
Group C | Uzbekistan, Syria, Hong Kong China, Afghanistan |
Group D | Japan, Palestine, Qatar |
Group E | South Korea, Bahrain, Thailand, Kuwait |
Group F | North Korea, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Chinese Taipei |
Here is the complete schedule for the men's football tournament
Date | Match | Group | Time | |
September 19, Tuesday | China vs India | A | 5:00 PM | |
September 19, Tuesday | Vietnam vs Mongolia | B | 1:30 PM | |
September 19, Tuesday | Saudi vs Iran | B | 5:00 PM | |
September 19, Tuesday | Bangladesh vs Myanmar | A | 1:30 PM | |
September 19, Tuesday | Bahrain vs Thailand | E | 1:30 PM | |
September 19, Tuesday | South Korea vs Kuwait | E | 5:00 PM | |
September 19, Tuesday | North Korea vs Chinese Taipei | F | 1:30 PM | |
September 19, Tuesday | Indonesia vs Kyrgyzstan | F | 5:00 PM | |
September 20, Wednesday | Uzbekistan vs Afghanistan | C | 1:30 PM | |
September 20, Wednesday | Syria vs Hong Kong China | C | 5:00 PM | |
September 20, Wednesday | Japan vs Qatar | D | 5:00 PM | |
September 21, Thursday | Myanmar vs China | A | 5:00 PM | |
September 21, Thursday | Mongolia vs Saudi Arabia | B | 1:30 PM | |
September 21, Thursday | Iran vs Vietnam | B | 5:00 PM | |
September 21, Thursday | India vs Bangladesh | A | 1:30 PM | |
September 21, Thursday | Kuwait vs Bahrain | E | 1:30 PM | |
September 21, Thursday | Thailand vs South Korea | E | 5:00 PM | |
September 21, Thursday | Chinese Taipei vs Indonesia | F | 1:30 PM | |
September 21, Thursday | Kyrgyzstan vs North Korea | F | 5:00 PM | |
September 22, Friday | Afghanistan vs Syria | C | 1:30 PM | |
September 22, Friday | Hong Kong China vs Uzbekistan | C | 5:00 PM | |
September 22, Friday | Qatar vs Palestine | D | 5:00 PM | |
September 24, Sunday | China vs Bangladesh | A | 5:00 PM | |
September 24, Sunday | Vietnam vs Saudi Arabia | B | 5:00 PM | |
September 24, Sunday | Iran vs Mongolia | B | 5:00 PM | |
September 24, Sunday | Myanmar vs India | A | 5:00 PM | |
September 24, Sunday | Kyrgyzstan vs Chinese Taipei | F | 1:30 PM | |
September 24, Sunday | South Korea vs Bahrain | E | 5:00 PM | |
September 24, Sunday | North Korea vs Indonesia | F | 1:30 PM | |
September 24, Sunday | Thailand vs Kuwait | E | 5:00 PM | |
September 25, Monday | Uzbekistan vs Syria | C | 1:30 PM | |
September 25, Monday | Hong Kong China vs Afghanistan | C | 1:30 PM | |
September 25, Monday | Palestine vs Japan | D | 5:00 PM | |
September 27, Wednesday | 1A vs 3B/C/D | Round of 16 | 5:00 PM | |
September 27, Wednesday | 1B vs 3C/D/E | Round of 16 | 2:00 PM | |
September 27, Wednesday | 2C vs 2D | Round of 16 | 5:00 PM | |
September 27, Wednesday | 1E vs 2F | Round of 16 | 5:00 PM | |
September 27, Wednesday | 1F vs 2E | Round of 16 | 2:00 PM | |
September 28, Thursday | 2A vs 2B | Round of 16 | 5:00 PM | |
September 28, Thursday | 1C vs 3D/E/F | Round of 16 | 2:00 PM | |
September 28, Thursday | 1D vs 3A/B/C | Round of 16 | 5:00 PM | |
October 1, Sunday | Round of 16 - 3 winner vs Round of 16 - 7 winner | Quarter-final | 12:30 PM | |
October 1, Sunday | Round of 16 - 1 winner vs Round of 16 - 5 winner | Quarter-final | 5:30 PM | |
October 1, Sunday | Round of 16 - 2 winner vs Round of 16 - 6 winner | Quarter-final | 5:00 PM | |
October 1, Sunday | Round of 16 - 4 winner vs Round of 16 - 8 winner | Quarter-final | 5:00 PM | |
October 4, Wednesday | Quarter-final 1 winner vs Quarter-final 3 winner | Semi-final | 5:30 PM | |
October 4, Wednesday | Quarter-final 2 winner vs Quarter-final 4 winner | Semi-final | 3:30 PM | |
October 7, Saturday | Semi-final losing team 1 vs semi-final losing team 2 | Bronze medal | 1:30 PM | |
October 7, Saturday | Semi-final winner 1 vs semi-final winner 2 | Gold medal | 5:30 PM |
The women's tournament will be held in a slightly different format. Set to begin on September 21, the women's football event at the Asian Games features senior teams.
The Asian Games 2023 will have 16 women's football teams grouped into five categories. Two groups comprise three teams each, while the other two have four teams. Group C, however, is unique with just two teams — North Korea and Singapore — following Cambodia's withdrawal. The Indian women's football side is placed in Group B, sharing the group with Chinese Taipei and Thailand.
Except for Group C, where Singapore and North Korea will compete against each other twice, all other groups will adhere to a single-legged round-robin format.
Once the group-stage matches conclude, the victors of groups A, B, D, and E will secure their spots in the quarter-finals. The top four among the second-placed teams from groups A, B, D, and E, along with the Group C winner, will complete the final eight in the tournament.
Here are all the groups in the women's football tournament
Group | Teams |
Group A | China, Uzbekistan, Mongolia |
Group B | Chinese Taipei, Thailand, India |
Group C | North Korea, Singapore |
Group D | Japan, Vietnam, Nepal, Bangladesh |
Group E | South Korea, Hong Kong, Philippines, Myanmar |
Here is the complete schedule for the women's football tournament
Date | Match | Group/Stage | Time |
September 21, Thursday | Chinese Taipei vs India | B | 5:00 PM |
September 22, Friday | China vs Mongolia | A | 5:00 PM |
September 22, Friday | Vietnam vs Nepal | D | 1:30 PM |
September 22, Friday | Japan vs Bangladesh | D | 5:00 PM |
September 22, Friday | Hong Kong China vs Philippines | E | 1:30 PM |
September 22, Friday | South Korea vs Myanmar | E | 5:00 PM |
September 24, Sunday | India vs Thailand | B | 1:30 PM |
September 24, Sunday | North Korea vs Singapore | C | 5:00 PM |
September 25, Monday | Mongolia vs Uzbekistan | A | 5:00 PM |
September 25, Monday | Bangladesh vs Vietnam | D | 1:30 PM |
September 25, Monday | Nepal vs Japan | D | 5:00 PM |
September 25, Monday | Myanmar vs Hong Kong China | E | 1:30 PM |
September 25, Monday | Philippines vs South Korea | E | 5:00 PM |
September 27, Wednesday | Thailand vs Chinese Taipei | B | 5:00 PM |
September 27, Wednesday | Singapore vs North Korea | C | 1:30 PM |
September 28, Thursday | Uzbekistan vs China | A | 5:00 PM |
September 28, Thursday | Japan vs Vietnam | D | 1:30 PM |
September 28, Thursday | South Korea vs Hong Kong China | E | 5:00 PM |
September 28, Thursday | Nepal vs Bangladesh | D | 1:30 PM |
September 28, Thursday | Philippines vs Myanmar | E | 5:00 PM |
September 30, Saturday | 1B vs 2A/1C | Quarter-final 2 | 12:30 PM |
September 30, Saturday | 1A vs 2B/1C | Quarter-final 1 | 5:30 PM |
September 30, Saturday | 1D vs 1C/2E | Quarter-final 3 | 5:00 PM |
September 30, Saturday | 1E vs 2D/1C | Quarter-final 4 | 2:00 PM |
October 3, Tuesday | Quarter-final 1 winner vs Quarter-final 2 winner | Semi-final 1 | 5:30 PM |
October 3, Tuesday | Quarter-final 3 winner vs Quarter-final 4 winner | Semi-final 2 | 3:30 PM |
October 6, Friday | Semi-final losing team 1 vs semi-final losing team 2 | Bronze medal | 12:30 PM |
October 6, Friday | Semi-final winner 1 vs semi-final winner 2 | Gold medal | 5:30 PM |
Where to watch the Asian Games 2023 football matches live in India?
Live streaming of the Asian Games 2023 football matches will happen on Sony Liv.
The Live telecast live of the Asian games will take place on the Sony Sports Network TV channels in India.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK
After Asia Cup title win, India one win away from dethroning Pakistan in ICC ODI rankings