Press Releases

Expressing gratitude for the hospitality in Meghalaya’s capital, Chettri said, “Shillong has been very welcoming. The facilities are excellent, and it’s great to play here after such a long time. We’ll give our best tomorrow.” Acknowledging Iran’s strength, Chettri noted that the visitors, ranked 70th in the world — seven places below India — would pose a tough challenge. The last meeting between the two sides in the 2022 Asian Cup ended goalless in Navi Mumbai, while India triumphed 1–0 in the 2019 Gold Cup in Bhubaneswar. Iran, who qualified for the 2026 Asian Cup by defeating Jordan, Bhutan, and Singapore, are known for their physical gameplay

Iran head coach Marziyeh Jafaribaravati expressed appreciation for India’s hospitality, confirming that her team has been training in Delhi and is prepared despite a tight schedule. “We are ready for the match, even though our players are tired. India is a very good team, and we expect a strong, competitive game. All three teams in this tournament are good, and we will give our best to win,” Jafaribaravati said