Iraq won the 49th Annual King’s Cup Football Tournament 2023 popularly known as King’s Cup. It defeated the host Thailand in the final played at the 700th Anniversary Stadium, Chiang Mai, Thailand on 10 September 2023.

At the end of the regulation time both teams scored 2-2. In the ensuing penalty shoot out Iraq won 5-4 .

World no 70 ranked Iraq is the highest ranked team in the tournament followed by India ranked World no 99, followed by Lebanon( 100) and Thailand (113).

In the third place playoff played on 10 September the Indian football team lost 1-0 to Lebanon.

The Indian team which is also known as Blue Tigers finished at the bottom of the table behind the eventual winner Iraq , runners up Thailand and Lebanon.

India was playing Lebanon for the fourth time this year. It defeated Lebanon in the semi finals of the 2023 SAFF championship held in India . India won the 2023 SAFF championship by beating Kuwait in the final played at the Sree Kanteerava stadium , Bengaluru, Karnataka.

India defeated Lebanon in the final of the Intercontinental cup . The 4 nations 2023 Intercontinental cup was held at Kalinga stadium Bhubaneswar, Odisha in June 2023. During the group stages India and Lebanon had played out a goalless draw.

Earlier in the King’s Cup 2023 semi-finals, India lost to Iraq 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the match ended 2-2 in regulation time.

This was the Indian men’s football team’s fourth appearance in the King’s Cup. India had finished third in the 1977 and 2019 editions.

Annual King's Cup Football Tournament:

Annual King's Cup Football Tournament or Kings Cup is an annual 4 nation men’s football championship. It is organised by the Football Association of Thailand . It was started in1968.