India’s National Football Team Will Play Iraq in the King’s Cup 2023 Semifinal Match
Thailand: On September 7th, in a highly anticipated matchup, the Indian men’s football team will face Iraq in the semi-finals of the famous King’s Cup 2023 competition in Thailand’s thriving football capital.
The 49th King’s Cup football competition, including four nations, was put in motion at an exciting draw ceremony hosted by the Football Association of Thailand this past Wednesday.
The second thrilling semifinal matchup, taking place on the same day, will have Thailand taking against Lebanon. Football fans should put September 10th on their calendars for the thrilling championship game and the competitive third-place playoff. The prestigious 700th Anniversary Stadium, located in the center of Chiang Mai, Thailand, will host all of these exciting matches.
According to the competition’s standings, Iraq is the top challenger for the title, holding a great global rating of 70, closely followed by India, which took the 99th slot. On the world football stage, Lebanon is in the 100th spot, while Thailand, the host country, is in the 113th spot.
Notably, India’s previous meeting with Iraq took place in a friendly match that was held in the busy city of Baghdad back in 2010. India faced a difficult opponent there and lost 2-0.
Since its debut in 1968, Thailand has enthusiastically hosted this yearly spectacle, known as the King’s Cup, as a key event on the world football calendar. Thailand’s consistent dedication to the competition is seen from their participation in every iteration to date.
This will be the fourth time the Indian football team has competed in the King’s Cup on Thai soil. Their most recent appearance in 2019 included a heartbreaking semifinal defeat to Curaçao, followed by an exhilarating comeback win against the tenacious hosts, Thailand, to claim the prized bronze medal.
India’s first attempt at winning the King’s Cup took place in 1977, and after defeating the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Indonesia, they triumphantly took home the bronze medal. They were, however, ousted in the group stage and suffered an early departure in 1981.
Tajikistan won the coveted championship in the tournament’s previous iteration in 2022 following a thrilling final matchup with Malaysia. Thailand, on the other hand, took third place by defeating Trinidad and Tobago by a score of 2-1 in a fiercely fought match.
Here is the timetable to keep you on the edge of your seat as the King’s Cup 2023 unfolds:
2023 King’s Cup Schedule
Date: Thursday, September 7,
Game: India vs. Iraq
Hours: 4:00
Date: Thursday, September 7,
Thailand against Lebanon
Date: 7 p.m.
Date: Sunday, September 10,
Match: Playoff for third place
Hours: 4:00
Date: Sunday, September 10,
Dispute: Final
Date: 7 p.m.
As the footballing world congregates in Thailand for the King’s Cup in 2023, be ready for an electrifying battle of giants.
