The Indian men's football team on Tuesday qualified for the AFC Asian Cup Finals after Palestine landed a 4-0 defeat on the Philippines in their group B match in Ulaanbaatar on Tuesday, June 14. This result also meant that the Palestinians directly qualified for the 24-team finals finishing as group toppers, while the second-placed Philippines, with four points, were eliminated despite finishing second.
The winners of the six qualifying groups are sure to advance to the tournament proper, where they will be joined by the five best second-placed teams in the respective groups. India, who are second behind Hong Kong (six points) on goal difference, confirmed their qualification ahead of their final round group D clash.
This is the first time India have qualified for the Asian Cup in two successive editions, having made the group league exit in the 2019 edition. Overall, India have qualified for the continental showpiece for the fifth time — 1964, 1984, 2011, 2019 and now in 2023.
The Men in Blue have been at their best in the ongoing qualifiers. They began their group stage matches with a commanding 2-0 victory over Cambodia, followed by a closely fought 2-1 victory over Afghanistan, which also effectively ended the latter's chances of reaching the premier continental international football tournament.
Only a win for India will gift them the top spot, and a chance at facing easier teams in the finals of the AFC Asian Cup in 2023. However, whatever their result in the game on Tuesday, June 14, their place in the tournament is all but confirmed.
