India have been drawn to play against Nepal in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1. The draw was held at the AFC Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday (February 10).

The matches would be held on a home and away format with India first playing at home on March 12. The return leg is slated for March 17, 2015.

The match will be the first one for national coach Stephen Constantine since he took over the job as the Indian senior national team coach for the second time.

Speaking exclusively to AIFF Media, Indian national coach Stephen Constantine mentioned that it will be a “difficult game.”

Constantine said: “It will be a very difficult game for us. Nepal are a good side. I think both teams have respect for each other it won’t be easy.”

“I am looking forward to going back to Nepal. It has been a long time since I have been in the Himalayan Kingdom. But this time, it will be for pure business.”

As per the January 2015 FIFA World Ranking, India are ranked at 171st while Nepal are presently at 186th. The last time the two teams met in November 2013, India defeated Nepal 2-0 at the Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri.

(Report & Picture courtesy AIFF Media)