India join World Cup qualifiers Iran and Uzbekistan in CAFA Cup

India person been invited to articulation adjacent month’s Central Asian shot Nations Cup successful Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

India person been invited to play successful the Central Asian Football Association’s (CAFA) Nations Cup adjacent month, the determination shot federation has confirmed, alongside FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers Iran and Uzbekistan.

The 2nd variation of the tourney – Iran won the inaugural lawsuit successful 2023 – volition tally from August 29 to September 8.

Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are the big countries.

The determination tourney illustrates a important thaw successful diplomatic ties betwixt Central Asian countries aft decades of tensions and conflicts since the autumn of the Soviet Union successful 1991.

“With 1 period to go, preparations are successful afloat plaything to present a tourney aimed astatine processing shot and strengthening planetary collaboration crossed the region,” CAFA said.

In summation to India, the six members of CAFA – Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan – volition compete.

Oman was besides invited and volition play successful the tourney for the 2nd time.

Kazakhstan, a immense state successful Central Asia and a large determination power, volition beryllium notably absent from the tourney arsenic it is simply a subordinate of UEFA.

Uzbekistan’s historic qualification past month for the World Cup finals was seen arsenic a awesome of the accelerated emergence of shot successful Central Asian countries, traditionally much palmy successful combat sports than squad sports.

In caller years, the erstwhile Soviet republics of Central Asia person made respective notable breakthroughs.

All bask beardown authorities support, with CAFA headed by the lad of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.

The Indian men’s nationalist squad are presently without a coach, portion the Indian Super League (ISL) – India’s apical home contention – is successful information of illness pursuing a quality betwixt the federation and its commercialized partner.

The current turmoil led Sunil Chhetri, India’s celebrated seasoned striker, to station connected X astir the destiny of the ISL.

“Everybody successful the Indian shot ecosystem is worried, hurt, frightened astir the uncertainty we are faced with,” helium said.

Source:

Al Jazeera and quality agencies