News Sports Soccer Ahmedabad to host 2nd Intercontinental Cup, India up against Syria, Tajikistan and North Korea

Ahmedabad to host 2nd Intercontinental Cup, India up against Syria, Tajikistan and North Korea

The second edition of the Intercontinental Cup will take place in Ahmedabad. India are the defending champions.

Sunil Chhetri made his 100th appearance for the national team during the previous edition of the tournament. Image Source : TWITTERSunil Chhetri made his 100th appearance for the national team during the previous edition of the tournament.

The second edition of the Hero Intercontinental Cup will be held at the TransStadia Arena in Ahmedabad from July 7 to 18, the All India Football Federation announced on Saturday.

The AIFF has already announced the participating teams but the venue of the tournament was made known on Saturday only. India, Syria, North Korea and Tajikistan will take part in the Intercontinental Cup.

All the four teams will play each other in a round robin format with the top two teams qualifying for the final.

The 'Blue Tigers' are the defending champions, having won the inaugural edition in Mumbai in June last year after defeating Kenya in the final, courtesy a brace from the Hero of the Tournament Sunil Chhetri.

The first edition also saw Sunil Chhetri posting a message on his social platforms, requesting the Indian fans to come in numbers to support the side. New Zealand and Chinese Taipei were the other two teams participating in the first edition of the Intercontinental Cup.

Syria is the highest-ranked country in the tournament this year (83), while India (101), Tajikistan (120) and North Korea (121) complete the line-up. In the Asian Cup earlier this year, India, Syria and North Korea took part.

However, all the three sides crashed out in the group stage of the tournament.