The opening month of the New Year will be packed with exciting fixtures in Indian football both internationally and domestically. The Indian men’s team's participation in the Asian Cup in Qatar will draw all the attention, with big hitters Australia, Uzbekistan and Syria to face in the group stages. The Blue Tigers are making a fifth appearance in the Asian Cup and the first time in consecutive fashion. The expectations are high on the team that won three trophies last year and lost just three times.
While the Asian Cup will be going on in Qatar, the Kalinga Super Cup will be played in the break for the continental competition. The stakes are high in the Super Cup this time with six foreigners allowed in the starting XI and winners getting a chance to play in the AFC Champions League 2. The tournament will have a rematch of the last edition’s final and the Kolkata derby among many games to look forward to. The final of the Kalinga Super Cup is on 28th January 2024.
Coincidentally, the Indian Women’s League or the IWL season will run with the next three rounds to be played in January 2024 after four matches so far. A proper league system this time in a home-and-away format is already setting up the best campaign ever. Odisha FC and not three-time champions Gokulam Kerala are leading the chart with Kickstart FC once again making a fairytale journey like last season.
Here are all the notable Indian Football games to watch in January 2024:
Gokulam Kerala FC vs Kickstart FC - IWL 2023/24 (12 January 2024)
A repeat of last year’s IWL final, holders Gokulam Kerala will take on beaten finalists Kickstart FC in the third vs second battle of the present standings. Only two points separate the side with a win for the Karnataka-based club launching them to the top of the table. If the Malabarians gain the upper hand, they will go within two points of leaders Odisha FC. Kickstart FC have made a 100% start to the season winning three out of three while Gokulam stumbled a bit losing for the first time in three seasons but remain a strong force making the clash an unmissable one.
Odisha FC vs Bengaluru FC - Super Cup 2024 (12 January 2024)
An interesting tie in the Super Cup will see a rematch of the previous edition’s final when holders Odisha FC will take on runners-up Bengaluru FC in their Group D opener. The Juggernauts beat the Blues 2-1 in the final played in April 2023 and will be wanting a similar result to get their title defence off a winning start. Their opposition will be hoping to prevent a hat-trick of losses against the same side hoping to change things under the new coach Gerard Zaragoza.
Australia vs India - Asian Cup 2023 Qatar (13 January 2024)
The featured game of the month will be the AFC Asian Cup curtain raiser for India facing former winners and Asian heavyweights Australia in Qatar on Saturday, 13 January 2024. The Blue Tigers lost 4-0 in the last meeting with a similar scenario in the 2011 edition of the competition also hosted by the same nation. Igor Stimac’s side will not want a repeat of that result as a transformed team with three trophies in the bag last year hoping to produce something different this time at the Asian level.
FC Goa vs Bengaluru FC - Super Cup 2024 (Wednesday, 17 January 2024)
The second round of games in Group D of the Kalinga Super Cup 2024 will see the clash of the titans between FC Goa and Bengaluru FC. Both the clubs are in contrasting run of form in the ISL with the Gaurs sitting second on the table while the Blues linger in ninth. Goa also have an easy opening game on paper facing I-league side Inter Kashi when Bengaluru FC will be taking on the holders Odisha FC. However, cup competition often provides different outcomes than expected making this clash an exciting one.
India vs Uzbekistan - Asian Cup 2023 Qatar (18 January 2024)
The national team will hope they do not have a tough pill to swallow in the Asian Cup opener and produce a performance that gives them belief for the rest of the tournament. The second group game against Uzbekistan will be a crucial one for the Blue Tigers but they have not won any past meetings of this fixture. The last time India earned a point was a goalless draw in an international friendly back in 1998. They lost four in a row after that including the last face-off in Merdeka Cup 2001.
Mohun Bagan SG vs East Bengal FC - Super Cup 2024 (19 January 2024)
The most high-profile game in Indian football will take center-stage in the Super Cup this season with Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC locking horns in the final game of Group A on 19th January 2024. The Kolkata derby will potentially decide the winners of the group, provided Hyderabad FC and Sreenidi Deccan do not produce any upset, to qualify for the semifinals with stakes being higher this time after two pulsating encounters in Durand Cup last year. While East Bengal broke their jinx of losing eight derbies in a row in the group stages, Mohun Bagan had the last laugh when the two met again in the final. It is left to see who comes up top this time in this mouthwatering fixture.
FC Goa vs Odisha FC - Super Cup 2024 (22 January 2024)
FC Goa and Odisha FC will be fighting it out for the top spot in Group C of the Super Cup as they meet in the final game for the decider. The group’s other two Bengaluru FC and Inter Kashi are unlikely to trouble them in this battle. The clash will also be regarded as the ‘Sergio Lobera derby’ as he makes his reunion with the Gaurs who have not suffered defeat till now. The Juggernauts will want to grab the trophy again to cap off their already excellent season. However, Manolo Marquez’s side has their own ambition of winning silverware this season and will do everything to advance to the semifinals.
Syria vs India - Asian Cup 2023 Qatar (23 January 2024)
The most important fixture for India in the Asian Cup will be against Syria in the final group game should they remain in contention for the knockouts by then. They will not want to face a similar scenario of losing their chance at the end like in the previous edition five years ago. India has a better record against Syria, three wins to two, than any other opposition in the group and will certainly fancy a positive result here. The Blue Tigers are also unbeaten in the last three meetings and will be hoping to hold on to that record to grab one of the knockout spots.
Kickstart FC vs Odisha - IWL 2024/25 (24 January 2024)
A potential early title decider in the IWL could be played in the last round of games of this month as second-place Kickstart FC take on table-toppers Odisha FC at home. It will be a hard ride for the last season’s runners-up with third-place Gokulam and Sethu in fourth to face in back-to-back matches prior to this fixture. Leaders Juggernauts will have to face East Bengal before making the trip that could define their season. Both will be inclined to break each other’s winning streak should it remain intact by then. Odisha FC could open up a massive lead at the top or Kickstart might make their presence felt by turning the tide towards themselves having come out top in the only other meeting.
