Football

The Indian senior men's football team will face Vietnam in a one-off friendly match on October 12 at the Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh, Vietnam. The match will count towards the FIFA Rankings.The friendly was originally scheduled to be a tri-nation tournament, with India also facing Lebanon on October 12. However, Lebanon withdrew from the tournament, prompting the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) to request the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to reschedule the Vietnam-India match to October 12, which was accepted by the VFF.India will assemble in Kolkata on October 5 and have a training session on October 6. Manolo Marquez and his squad will travel to Vietnam on October 7, where they will continue training.Marquez announced a list of 26 probables on Monday. The final squad of 23 players will be announced before the team's travel to Vietnam.This will be the second event that the Indian senior national football team will be played under Manolo Marquez, who was appointed to the post succeeding Igor Stimac on July 20, 2024. The Intercontinental Cup was the 56-year-old Marquex's first assignment as India coach.India will be looking to build on their recent good form, which has seen them win the SAFF Championship and qualify for the AFC Asian Cup. Vietnam, meanwhile, are ranked 97th in the FIFA Rankings, 10 places below India.The match will be a good test for both teams as they prepare for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup. India will be hoping to continue their good form and Vietnam will be looking to improve their FIFA Ranking.

India's women's football team suffered a disappointing 1-2 defeat to Myanmar in a friendly match in Yangon on Tuesday, extending their winless streak against their neighbors.Myanmar took the lead in the 14th minute through a set-piece goal by Win Theingi Tun, who plays for Indian club Odisha FC. India equalized in the 58th minute when Pyari Xaxa tapped in a loose ball, but Myanmar regained the lead in the 74th minute when San Thaw Thaw converted a free-kick from May Thet Mon Myint.India had a slow start to the match and conceded the opening goal from a corner kick. Myanmar continued to press and forced India goalkeeper Elangbam Panthoi Chanu into several saves. India improved in the second half and created more chances, but they were unable to capitalize on their opportunities.Myanmar's defense tightened up in the second half, and India's attackers were often caught offside. Myanmar got their second goal from another set-piece situation, with San Thaw Thaw scoring from a free-kick.This was India's fifth defeat to Myanmar in six matches. Their last meeting was a 3-3 draw in the AFC Women's Olympic Qualifiers in Mandalay in 2019. India will play a second friendly against Myanmar on Friday.