New Delhi: Hopes for a spot in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 are fading for South Asian teams as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan edge closer to elimination in the qualifiers. In Group C, India suffered a second straight defeat, falling 1-0 to Hong Kong after a goalless draw against Bangladesh in their opening match.
With just one point, India, including Singapore, now sits at the bottom of the group. Bangladesh’s 2-1 loss to Singapore has left them in third place, level with India on points but ahead on goal difference.
The situation is equally grim for Pakistan in Group E. Their 1-0 defeat to Myanmar and an earlier loss to Syria means they remain without a point and are effectively eliminated. Afghanistan, too, found themselves out of contention after losing 1-0 to Syria following a previous defeat to Tajikistan.
Only the winners of each group in the third round of qualifiers will advance to the tournament, which will be held in Saudi Arabia.
With qualification hopes dashed, these nations must now regroup and focus on rebuilding for future competitions. Various regional sports sources and updates from the Asian Football Confederation reported these outcomes.
