AFC Asian Cup 2023: Sunil Chhetri has no plans to retire after the tournament

India football legend Sunil Chhetri has ruled out international retirement after the AFC Asian Cup 2023, which starts on 12 January, and has added that he will be available for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers which will take place in March and June. The star striker is only eight months away from turning 40 and will be the oldest outfield player at the Asian Cup, but he is well aware of the importance of the qualifiers and is ready to hang around a bit more with the Indian football team. After beating Kuwait in an away game in Group A, the first for India in 22 years, the Blue Tigers have a realistic chance of reaching the third round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time. However, everything will depend on how they do against Afghanistan in March and Kuwait and Qatar in June. “We have got very important games against Afghanistan, Kuwait and Qatar and I will be available,” Chhetri said in an interview with Hindustan Times. “If we weren’t in the (2026 World Cup) qualifiers, probably this would have been my last. (But) we are in with a chance to make the third round for the first time in my career. I am not trying to put pressure on myself or the team when I say this but something really drastic has to go wrong from our side for us to not be in the third round. And right now, the team needs me.” He, however, also refused to say if he will be playing international football beyond June. 102-ranked India start their Asian Cup campaign on 13 January against 25th Australia. They also face Uzbekistan and Syria in tough Group B. Chhetri felt a good performance in the Asian Cup could go a long way in helping India reach the third round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. “For us to make the third round, it is important to give a good account in the Asian Cup. We are playing three top teams. Okay, Syria are good but Uzbekistan and Australia are top teams. It will be a good way of testing ourselves,” Chhetri said.