India lose 3-1 to Tajikistan in first football friendly

Key points

• The Indian football team suffered a 3-1 loss to Tajikistan in Tursunzoda on Friday in what was the first match of the two 2026 international football friendlies scheduled during the June FIFA international window.
• Sheriddin Boboev (9'), Mekhrubon Karimov (62') and Ehsoni Panshanbe (68') gave the hosts a 3-1 advantage before Farukh Choudhary (89’) scored from a direct free-kick to give India a consolation goal.
• This was India’s third loss on the trot following defeats to Jamaica and Zimbabwe in the Unity Cup in London.
• The Indian team, coached by Khalid Jamil, travelled to Tajikistan directly from London.
• India, 137th in the latest FIFA football rankings, looked to take the game to world No. 103 Tajikistan early on, but found it difficult to cope with the hosts’ high press.