The 42nd edition of the Merdeka Cup, organized by the Football Association of Malaysia, is set to take place in October 2023, featuring four teams: India, Lebanon, Palestine, and hosts Malaysia.
Let’s have a look at everything you need to know about the tournament, from the teams and schedule to the venue and more: Merdeka Cup 2023
Teams
The FIFA Rankings of participating national teams as of 29 March 2023 are as follows:
- India – 101
- Lebanon – 99
- Malaysia (Host) – 138
- Palestine – 93
Schedule
All matches will be played in Kuala Lumpur at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, with a capacity of 87,411. The schedule for the tournament is as follows:
Semi-finals:
- 14 October 2023, 17:30: Palestine vs Lebanon
- 14 October 2023, 20:00: Malaysia vs India
Third place play-off:
- 17 October 2023, 17:30: loser of semi-final 1 vs loser of semi-final 2
Final:
- 17 October 2023, 20:00: winner of semi-final 1 vs winner of semi-final 2
Match Rules
- All matches will be 90 minutes long.
- In the event of a draw in 90 minutes, a penalty shoot-out will be conducted.
- A maximum of five substitutions will be allowed.
Venue
All matches will be played at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, which has a seating capacity of 87,411.
History
The Merdeka Cup is the oldest football tournament in Asia, having started in 1957. India has finished runners-up twice in the tournament and will be hoping for a strong performance once again.
India’s Participation: Merdeka Cup 2023
The Indian men’s national team will participate in the Merdeka Cup as part of their preparations for the AFC Asian Cup 2024 in Qatar. Apart from the Merdeka Cup, India is scheduled to play in the Intercontinental Cup, the SAFF Championship, the King’s Cup, the Asian Games, and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
India showed fine form in the recently-concluded Hero Tri-Nation Tournament, defeating Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan. The team will look to carry forward their momentum and aim for the title in the Merdeka Cup.
The Merdeka Cup is an exciting tournament that brings together some of the best football teams in Asia. With the schedule, venue, and teams now confirmed, fans around the world can look forward to some great football in October 2023.
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