India will host the Hero tri-nation international football tournament in Manipur to prepare for the upcoming Asian Football Confederation Cup, the quadrennial international men’s football championship of Asia organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Team India will face Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan on March 22 and 28, respectively, at Imphal’s Khuman Lampak Stadium. In the FIFA rankings, India is rated 106th, whereas Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar are ranked 94th and 159th, respectively.

This will be the first international football event in Manipur, a state that has produced over 50 Indian national team players. Moreover, this will be Team India’s first time competing in Manipur.

The friendlies in the international windows are critical for the National Team to reach the appropriate standards before the Asian Cup later this year. The Blue Tigers squad is comprised of youthful players who have excelled at the domestic level and are eager to get their first taste of the coveted international football.

 “We all are aware of football’s popularity in Manipur. The state has produced a huge number of footballers, both men, and women, but never before has a national team match been organized in the state. Having launched Vision 2047 recently, our aim is to take quality football to the furthest corners of the country. Manipur’s vibrant football culture makes them deserving hosts, and so they have been given charge of hosting the Senior National Team’s matches.” AIFF President Mr Kalyan Chaubey said in a press conference.

Football has long been regarded as a non-starter in India, but recent successes have raised expectations for its resurgence.  Also major European teams are likewise eager to assist India in establishing, generating, and expanding the game’s popularity across the subcontinent.

With more money being thrown into and out of cricket, football appears to be adopting inspiration from its field counterpart. Football has gotten greater media and business attention during the past nine years since the Indian Super League began, which is good news for the sport. If this trend continues, India will be one of the top teams in Asia and will compete in the World Cup in a few years.

Though it is a hard truth that a country follows world cup football and international football leagues religiously, the same enthusiasm and passion for their own tri-nation football event is missing among the people. The All India Football Federation has to conduct more effort in this area to strengthen the game at the grassroots level.
Fixtures for the Tri-Nation Football tournament

India VS Myanmar – 22nd March (6 pm IST)

Myanmar VS Kyrgyz Republic – 25th March (6 pm IST)

India VS Kyrgyz Republic – 28th March (6 pm IST)

The matches will also be broadcast on Sony Sports Network and Disney + Hotstar.