There will be few busier periods in Indian football than this month, October 2023, with both national teams in action as well as leagues and crunching continental fixtures. After disappointment for Indian football at the Asian Games, the men’s and women’s sides will gear up for the next challenges in historical occasions. These matches are in the magnitude of defining the direction Indian football is heading towards. Plenty at stakes for the Blue Tigers as they travel to Malaysia for the Merdeka Cup while the Blue Tigresses face a daunting task in the Women's Olympic Asian Qualifiers Round 2.
The club football will also grab the headline with the fourth division of the men’s football league in India officially starting this month. Indian clubs competing in the AFC competitions will face tough fixtures ahead as well. Mumbai City FC travel to Saudi Arabia for a huge clash with Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League after a losing start to the campaign. Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Odisha FC will face champions from Bangladesh and Maldives respectively for the top spot of the South Zone group in the AFC Cup. The 2023/24 I-League season also gets underway towards the end of the month.
Here are the Indian football events to watch in October 2023:
Santosh Trophy (8 - 20 October 2023)
The first round of the 2023/24 Santosh Trophy started on 8th October 2023 with this being the 77th edition of the senior men’s national tournament. A total of 36 teams are participating in the group stages while two, last season’s champions Karnataka and runners-up Meghalaya, have earned direct qualification to the final round. As is Arunachal Pradesh who will host the games of the latter round. The opening round of games will conclude on 20 October 2023.
Check out here Santosh Trophy 2023-24 Schedule and Santosh Trophy 2023-24 All teams squad
Merdeka Cup (13 October - 17 October 2023)
Indian men’s national team will be back in action from the Asian Games in the October international break competing in the historic Merdeka Cup. The tournament was revived this year after last held a decade ago in 2013. This will be its 42nd edition with the competition played to commemorate the Independence Day of Malaysia. The Blue Tigers will play the hosts Malaysia on the 13th of October for a place in the final on the 17th against the winner between Palestine and Tajikistan. There is a third-place game on the same day should India lose their match with the loser in the other semi-final game of this four-nation battle. Igor Stimac’s side will have the last set of friendlies to prepare before the all-important AFC qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in November and the big event in January next year, the Asian Cup in Qatar.
Women's Olympic Asian Qualifiers Round 2 (26 October 2023 - 1 November 2023)
The women’s national team of India will be facing stiff competition in round two of the Asian Qualifiers for the Olympics hosted by Paris, France next year. The Blue Tigresses have the platform to create history after beating Kyrgyzstan with relative ease in round 1 but the calibre of opposition will mightily increase from now on. That is because India will rub shoulders against 2023 Women’s World Cup quarterfinalists Japan, Vietnam and Uzbekistan, all higher-ranked oppositions. Needless to say, the clash against the Nadeshiko in the first game of the round 2 qualifiers on 26th October will draw most of the attention with the side featuring Golden Boot winner in the World Cup Hinata Miyazawa and fellow stars from the Women’s Super League or WSL in England. The group winners and only the best-ranked runners-up will progress from this round so Thomas Dennerby’s side have their work cut out.
Al Hilal vs Mumbai City FC (23 October 2023)
Mumbai City FC knew they had a special draw in the AFC Champions League having paired with last season’s finalists in the competition and Saudi League giants Al-Hilal. The Islanders will get to share the pitch with world stars like Neymar, Sergej Milinković-Savić, Aleksandar Mitrović etc. Before the historic game in India next month, Mumbai will first take them on in the away game at Saudi Arabia. A fixture that is eagerly anticipated takes place on 23rd October 2023. The concern for Des Buckingham’s side is losing all the games so far in the Champions League, conceding five times and failing to score even once. On the other hand, Al-Hilal will be entering this fixture thrashing Iranian side Nassaji 3-0 in the last game overturning a disappointing draw against Navbahor on the opening day.
Mohun Bagan vs Basundhara Kings and Odisha vs Maziya (24 October 2023)
Mohun Bagan Super Giant are willing to keep their winning run going with victories in the first two group games of the AFC Cup 2023/24 and qualifiers earlier against Basundhara Kings. The Mariners top the group table at the moment with only the winners qualifying for the knockouts. The game is rescheduled to be played at the Kalinga Stadium due to the lack of security guarantee for Durga Puja in Kolkata. Only an hour after the first game, home side Odisha FC will take to the pitch to face Maziya Sports & Recreation hoping to turn their fortunes after back-to-back losses in their debut AFC Cup campaign.
I-League Third Division (22 October 2023 - 9 November 2023)
The newly launched I-league 3rd division, the fourth division of the men’s football league system in the country, will also begin in October 2023. A total of 24 teams from nine states will participate in the inaugural edition with the clubs divided into four groups. The champion clubs of state leagues and also certain nominated clubs will participate in the competition. The matches will take place from 22 October 2023 till 9 November 2023. Do check out the I-League 3rd Division 2023 Fixtures
ISL 2023/24 Season
Indian Super League action will resume after the October international break with spicy clashes to look forward to even though the ever-exciting Kolkata derby is rescheduled. FC Goa will hope to keep their winning momentum going as they make their first trip of the season to face East Bengal in the changed venue for the game at Kalinga Stadium on 21st October 2023. Two bottom-placed teams Hyderabad FC and Chennaiyin FC look for their first win of the season as they face each other on 23rd October 2023. While Odisha FC faces Southern hostility in back-to-back games against Kerala Blasters and Bengaluru FC. For full schedule visit, ISL Fixtures for 2023/24 Season
I-League (28 October 2023 - April 2024)
The 17th season of the I-League promises to be different with 13 teams participating in the now second division men’s football league in the country. There have been two new corporate entries this season with two more sides getting promoted from the third division. The teams will fight to be the second side to be promoted into ISL by winning the I-League after Punjab FC created history last season. The Shers became the first side to make the step to the top flight with promotion coming into place. The two bottom-placed teams at the end of the season will be relegated except the corporate clubs who are immune from demotion as of now.
Must check out I-League Fixtures for the 2023/24 season
