Overview

• The first leg kicks off on Oct 9 at Singapore’s National Stadium (7:30 pm local/5:00 pm IST), with the return match on Oct 14 at Goa’s Fatorda Stadium.
• India have one point from two matches after a draw with Bangladesh and a loss to Hong Kong, while Singapore lead on four points from a draw with Hong Kong and a 2-1 win in Dhaka.
• Khalid Jamil takes charge of his first qualifiers after replacing Manolo Márquez and has recalled captain Sunil Chhetri following a third-place finish at the CAFA Nations Cup.
• India’s preparations were curtailed by late club releases that left the squad training together for roughly a week, as Singapore continue under interim coach Gavin Lee with captain Hariss Harun and striker Ikhsan Fandi available.
• Only the group winner qualifies for 2027, and if teams finish level on points the head-to-head record breaks ties, heightening the importance of both legs.