The Indian National Football Team is set to play its first international friendly in Nepal. The All Nepal Football Association on Friday confirmed that India will play two friendly matches. The match will be played on September 2 and 5, 2021 at the Dasarath Stadium in Kathmandu.
The two national teams played against each other 19 times, of which the Indian team won 13 times. Nepal has beaten India twice, the most recent being a 2-1 victory in the 2013 SAFF Championship in Kathmandu. Both sides are currently preparing for the upcoming SAFF Championship.
The last time Nepal played against India at home was in March 2015, when the two teams drew a goalless draw at Dasharat Stadium in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Nepal has faced India in competitive fixtures at home previously. This is the first time Nepal is hosting India in an International Friendly.
Both the teams are preparing for the SAFF Championship to be held in October. The host of SAFF is not yet determined but Nepal and the Maldives have submitted their proposal to SAFF.
India on the other hand has said the friendly is in the final process of confirmation. As per AIFF, ANFA proposed two Friendlies in the above-mentioned window. The AIFF thanked the Nepal FA for the offer and said the match is in the process of finalizing the proposal from the Nepal FA with the Head Coach. However, ANFA said they received the proposal from AIFF and accepted the friendly.
