India set to take on Malaysia in Hyderabad on November 18 for International Friendly

The Indian men's football team, still in pursuit of their first win under head coach Manolo Marquez, will take on Malaysia in an international friendly on November 18 at Hyderabad's Gachibowli Stadium. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced the change in schedule, moving the match up by a day and confirming the venue. Falling within the final FIFA international match window of 2024, clubs are obligated to release players for national duty. This upcoming fixture will mark Marquez's fourth game in charge of the national team, following a tough start that saw a draw against Mauritius and losses to Syria and Vietnam.

The Gachibowli Stadium, where India last hosted the Intercontinental Cup in September, offers a familiar setting. India, however, struggled in that tournament, managing a goalless draw with Mauritius before falling to Syria, the eventual champions, 0-3.

Their recent 1-1 draw against Vietnam in October also saw the team miss out on a win. Despite India's current FIFA ranking of 125th, only slightly ahead of Malaysia at 133rd, the match promises to be a competitive challenge. Malaysia bested India in their last meeting in October 2023 at the Merdeka Cup semifinal, with a 4-2 win.

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