In a disappointing turn of events, Pakistan and Afghanistan have both failed to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 following a series of unfortunate results in the qualifiers.
India and Bangladesh, placed together in Group C, both are also on the verge of elimination from the qualifying stage.
India, placed in Group C alongside Bangladesh, Singapore, and Hong Kong, suffered a second consecutive defeat after their 1-0 loss to Hong Kong.
This follows a 0-0 draw with Bangladesh in their opening match, leaving them at the bottom of the group with a single point.
Bangladesh, too, saw their hopes dashed after losing to Singapore 2-1, slipping to third place in the group after India, also with a single point.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s campaign in Group E ended in disappointment after a 1-0 loss to Myanmar.
Their earlier defeat to Syria added to their woes, leaving them with no points in the group after 2 matches and effectively out of contention.
Afghanistan, who have struggled throughout the qualifiers, lost to Syria 1-0 in their second match after an earlier defeat to Tajikistan, also finding themselves at the bottom of their group.
The road to the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia continues to be a tough one for these nations, as only the winners of each of the six groups in the third round will secure a place in the prestigious tournament. With their elimination confirmed, these teams will now turn their focus on future competitions, hoping to bounce back stronger in the next qualifying cycle.