India to play Jordan in friendly for the first time

On Wednesday, The AIFF (All India Football Federation) made an announcement that the national team will play their first ever international friendly against Jordan, west Asian powerhouse on November 17, in Amman.

The match will be held at the King Abdullah II International Stadium and will commence at 9.30pm (IST).

Jordan currently placed 110th, who went down 1-2 to World Cup runners-up Croatia in their last friendly earlier this month. India is ranked 97th.

The AIFF said the India U-16 team played with Jordan twice earlier this year where the Indians won both the times, but the two teams have never met in an international friendly ever before.

Earlier this month we saw India's goalless draw against Asian giants China in their last international friendly. This November friendly will further add the tempo for the national team's preparations for the AFC Asian Cup which is scheduled to take off in the month of January next year in UAE.

India has been clubbed in Group A with UAE, Thailand and Bahrain in Group A at the AFC Asian Cup, are listed to play their first match on January 6 with Thailand.

National coach Stephen Constantine said the match will be a "big test" for the team.