Indian men’s football team will now play only one match during this FIFA window, as Lebanon has withdrawn from the Tri-Nation tournament due to ongoing geopolitical issues.
The tournament, originally set to take place at the Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh, Vietnam, was to feature India, Vietnam, and Lebanon.
India was scheduled to face hosts Vietnam on October 9 and Lebanon on October 12.
However, with Lebanon’s withdrawal, India will now play just one match, against Vietnam on the originally scheduled date.
Manolo Marquez, India’s head coach, had earlier announced a 26-member probable squad, with the final 23-man roster to be confirmed before the team’s departure for Vietnam on October 7.
This tournament marks Marquez’s second assignment since taking charge of the national team in July.
In his first outing, the Intercontinental Cup held in Hyderabad, India struggled, drawing 0-0 with Mauritius and suffering a 0-3 defeat to Syria. L
Marquez will have limited time to prepare his team for the match against Vietnam, who are ranked 116th in the world, with only two training sessions before the game.