India’s football team is embarking on a new era under the guidance of their new coach, Manolo Marquez, and the Intercontinental Cup 2024 is set to be the first test of this fresh chapter. This tournament will mark a significant change for the Indian team as it will be the first time in nearly two decades that the team will compete without their record goalscorer, Sunil Chhetri, as an active international footballer. The first match of the tournament will see India facing off against Mauritius on Tuesday, September 3rd, at the G. M. C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad.
Manolo Marquez, the new head coach, has a strong connection to Hyderabad, having previously led the city’s Indian Super League (ISL) side, Hyderabad FC, to victory in the 2022 ISL final. This homecoming will be even more special as Marquez takes charge of the national team for the first time on home soil. The Intercontinental Cup 2024 is the fourth edition of the tournament, following successful events in 2018, 2019, and 2023. India boasts a strong record in the tournament, having won the first and most recent editions. In 2019, they triumphed over Kenya 2-0 in the final, and last year, they secured the trophy with a 2-0 victory against Lebanon.
The Intercontinental Cup 2024 will feature a round-robin format where each team will play each other once. India will face off against Mauritius, Syria, and Venezuela in Hyderabad. The team with the most points at the end of the tournament will be crowned champion. This tournament will serve as a crucial platform for India to showcase their growth and progress under Manolo Marquez, particularly with the absence of Sunil Chhetri. The Blue Tigers have only played Mauritius once before, seven years ago, but their encounter with Syria is more recent. They met in the group stage of the AFC Asian Cup 2023, with Syria emerging victorious by a single goal. This upcoming match provides a chance for India to seek redemption against their Asian rivals.
The Intercontinental Cup 2024 will be played at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Hyderabad, formerly known as the Gachibowli Athletic Stadium. The stadium has undergone significant renovations, including the addition of floodlights and box seats, and now boasts a capacity of 30,000 people. The tournament will utilize the Nivia Astra-32 ball, which was also used in the previous edition held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Fans can catch all the action live on Sports18 SD and HD, and also via live streaming on JioCinema. Real-time updates will be available on the Sportstar website. The Intercontinental Cup 2024 promises to be an exciting showcase of India’s new football era and a test of the team’s strength and potential.
