Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], August 23 (ANI): The Indian eFootball nationwide group have been topped the inaugural champions of the FIFAe Continental Championship Asia 2026 ft. eFootball Mobile after defeating Japan 1-0 on mixture within the closing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday.
This victory additionally marked their third successive qualification for the FIFAe World Cup, which will likely be held in Saudi Arabia later this 12 months, in accordance with an All India Football Federation (AIFF) launch.
India was represented by the duo of Danial Patel (DaNiAL) and Mujtaba Husaini (MujjiCool), who capped the memorable marketing campaign and secured the historic title for the nation.
‘We’re feeling so proud about what we have completed. All our followers sitting at dwelling are additionally a part of this. It feels unbelievable. We labored actually arduous for this, and we introduced dwelling the trophy. I’m pleased with my accomplice Danial. He’s been very good all through the event,’ Husaini mentioned after the ultimate.
The eTigers started their continental marketing campaign on Wednesday within the group stage with a 1-0 win in opposition to Myanmar earlier than struggling a 0-2 defeat to Jordan. The duo responded strongly proper after, recording three consecutive victories — 1-0 in opposition to Japan, 2-0 in opposition to Uzbekistan and one other 1-0 in opposition to Thailand. A 0-1 defeat to Indonesia ended the profitable run however India have been capable of safe a top-two end with a 1-1 draw in opposition to Malaysia, which obtained them a bye to the semi-finals.
India confronted Thailand within the semi-final on Friday night. The eTigers edged the opening sport 1-0, and a 1-1 draw within the second leg despatched them by to the ultimate and in addition punched their ticket to the World Cup.
Japan awaited India within the title decider on Saturday. Like their group stage assembly, it turned out to be a decent contest on the screens once more. India scored the one purpose of each legs early within the first sport, earlier than holding their East Asian opponents to a goalless draw within the second. The 1-0 mixture victory made India the first-ever winners of the FIFAe Continental Championship Asia ft. eFootball Mobile.
For Patel, the triumph was not solely a landmark achievement for the group but in addition a press release of intent forward of the World Cup, with the eTigers now seeking to carry their continental type onto the worldwide stage.
‘Now that we have gained the Continental Championship, we have made a press release that India are one of many favourites for the World Cup. So, yeah, we’re ready, and the subsequent step is to win the World Cup,’ mentioned Patel.
India makes Rocket League debut on the continental stage.
India additionally made their maiden look on the FIFAe Continental Championship Asia 2026 ft. Rocket League, with Abhai Ponna (Abscrazy), Karthik Raghunandan (Karvin), and Aditeya Amol Srivastav (Riyal) representing the nation after qualifying by the FIFAe Nations League.
The eTigers completed fifth within the group stage with seven factors and have been knocked out within the quarter-finals by Oman.
All the motion happened on Sunday. The Indian trio endured a tough begin to the marketing campaign in opposition to Jordan and Australia, happening 0-3 in each encounters. However, they bounced again with a run of 5 unbeaten matches – consecutive attracts in opposition to Qatar and Oman earlier than a 3-0 win over Maldives – marking their first win of the event. The eTigers wrapped up the group stage with additional attracts in opposition to Malaysia and Indonesia to make it to the knockout stage.
In the quarter-final, India confronted Oman in a collection of 4 matches. But the West Asians gained all 4 to convey India’s run to an finish.
Despite the quarter-final exit, the eTigers’ run marked a promising starting to India’s journey in Rocket League, with the group reaching the knockout stage of their first-ever look on the FIFAe Continental Championship Asia. (ANI)