The Indian men's football team have secured qualification for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup before their qualifier against Hong Kong in Kolkata tonight (June 14).Palestine thrashed the Philippines 4-0 in their Group B match earlier today to qualify as group winners and knock the latter out of the reckoning. The result means the Blue Tigers, along with Hong Kong, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, will compete at next year's AFC Asian Cup.This marks the team's second consecutive appearance at the continental event after they made it to the group stages of the 2019 edition. They won just one of their three Group A games to exit the tournament before the knockouts on that occasion. However, Igor Stimac's men will receive a chance to improve on that next year.The team's qualification led to a wide range of responses on Twitter. Sports broadcaster Anant Tyagi believes the Blue Tigers should look to top their group with a win tonight and wrote:"Palestine’s win against Philippines means INDIA make it to back to back AFC Asian Cups for the first time in their history. Now let’s go top that group tonight @IndianFootball #BackTheBlue"Anant Tyagi@anantyagi_Palestine’s win against Philippines means INDIA make it to back to back AFC Asian Cups for the first time in their history. Now let’s go top that group tonight @IndianFootball #BackTheBlue twitter.com/anantyagi_/sta…Anant Tyagi@anantyagi_If Palestine beat Philippines or draw on 14th June, India could be through to the Asian Cup even before they face Hong Kong later in the evening but after last night’s victory they will be desperate to finish top of their Group D! #ACQ2023 #IndianFootball29632If Palestine beat Philippines or draw on 14th June, India could be through to the Asian Cup even before they face Hong Kong later in the evening but after last night’s victory they will be desperate to finish top of their Group D! #ACQ2023 #IndianFootballPalestine’s win against Philippines means INDIA make it to back to back AFC Asian Cups for the first time in their history. Now let’s go top that group tonight @IndianFootball 🙌 #BackTheBlue 👊 twitter.com/anantyagi_/sta…Veteran journalist Marcus Mergulhao had a simpler response, tweeting:"India have qualified for Asian Cup 2023. Congratulations to everyone :-)"Marcus Mergulhao@MarcusMergulhaoIndia have qualified for Asian Cup 2023. Congratulations to everyone :-) #IndianFootball4276388India have qualified for Asian Cup 2023. Congratulations to everyone :-) #IndianFootballSports writer for the Indian Express, Mihir Vasavda, chimed in that qualifying for the tournament is merely the bare minimum. He reckons the aim should be to reach the knockouts of the Asian Cup:"No doubt qualification is important, but this should be the bare minimum for #IndianFootball. The actual target should be to progress to the knockout rounds of the #AsianCup. Shouldn't be happy merely by getting there. The bar should be set higher now."Mihir Vasavda@mihirsvNo doubt qualification is important but this should be the bare minimum for #IndianFootball. The actual target should be to progress to the knockout rounds of the #AsianCup. Shouldn't be happy merely by getting there. The bar should be set higher now.27735No doubt qualification is important but this should be the bare minimum for #IndianFootball. The actual target should be to progress to the knockout rounds of the #AsianCup. Shouldn't be happy merely by getting there. The bar should be set higher now.Others also reacted to the news on Twitter. Here are some of the best reactions from fans, analysts and others on the social media platform:Suraj Balakrishnan@SurajBalaGood to see the #IndianFootball team qualify for the Asian Cup. It’s another small milestone but truth be told, we have to aim much higher going forward.India has the talent & resources to reach the knockout stages consistently.Onwards & upwards.#BlueTigers #AsianCup2023347Good to see the #IndianFootball team qualify for the Asian Cup. It’s another small milestone but truth be told, we have to aim much higher going forward.India has the talent & resources to reach the knockout stages consistently.Onwards & upwards.#BlueTigers #AsianCup2023 https://t.co/QuKvnJrXXxVinayakk@vinayakkm#IndianFootball #ACQ2023 Palestine win 4-0 and with that India are guaranteed a spot in the AFC Asian Cup as six points will be enough to be one of the best 5 2nd placed teams at the very least. India and Hong Kong can play tonight without qualification pressures. twitter.com/thefield_in/st…The Field@thefield_in#ACQ2023 #IndianFootball JUST IN: India are guaranteed to qualify for 2023 Asian Cup as at least one of the best five second-placed teams in the final group. For the first time, India are set to feature in consecutive Asian Cup tournament finals. scroll.in/field/1026112/…42#ACQ2023 #IndianFootball ⚽ 🚨 JUST IN: India are guaranteed to qualify for 2023 Asian Cup as at least one of the best five second-placed teams in the final group. For the first time, India are set to feature in consecutive Asian Cup tournament finals. scroll.in/field/1026112/… https://t.co/k3UfVtNBGD#IndianFootball #ACQ2023 Palestine win 4-0 and with that India are guaranteed a spot in the AFC Asian Cup as six points will be enough to be one of the best 5 2nd placed teams at the very least. India and Hong Kong can play tonight without qualification pressures. twitter.com/thefield_in/st…Arka@ArkaTweets1Qualified for Asian Cup but tonight's match is still vital. Match against an opponent who have also qualified and for FIFA ranking - basis for Asian Cup draw.21Qualified for Asian Cup but tonight's match is still vital. Match against an opponent who have also qualified and for FIFA ranking - basis for Asian Cup draw.IFTWC@IFTWCIndia 🤝 Palestine 🫂Due to Palestine's - win over the Philippines earlier today, the following nations mentioned below have now qualified for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup! 🤩🥳India Thailand Palestine Hong Kong Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan 334India 🇮🇳 🤝 🇵🇸 Palestine 🫂Due to Palestine's 4️⃣ - 0️⃣ win over the Philippines earlier today, the following nations mentioned below have now qualified for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup! 🤩🥳India 🇮🇳Thailand 🇹🇭Palestine 🇵🇸Hong Kong 🇭🇰Uzbekistan 🇺🇿Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬Tajikistan 🇹🇯 https://t.co/FlvHt3ipZa90ndstoppage@90ndstoppageBack-to-Back Asian Cup Qualification for team India. #IndianFootball #ACQ202329614Back-to-Back Asian Cup Qualification for team India. 🇮🇳 #IndianFootball #ACQ2023Battalia Gokulam Kerala FC@battalia_gkfcAsia Here we come!! India have qualified for AFC Asian Cup 2023 This is the fifth time we are qualifying for Asian Cup (1964,1984,2011,2019,2023)#IndianFootball #Malabarians #BattaliaGKFC #ACQ20231029Asia Here we come!! India have qualified for AFC Asian Cup 2023 😍😍This is the fifth time we are qualifying for Asian Cup✌️✌️ (1964,1984,2011,2019,2023)#IndianFootball #Malabarians #BattaliaGKFC #ACQ2023 https://t.co/FP157XB1vwIndia look to end 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers on a highHaving qualified for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, the Blue Tigers will look to end their qualifying campaign on a high. A win over Hong Kong at the Salt Lake Stadium will take them into next year's showpiece event as group winners.Their next opponents, though, have been in excellent form, beating Afghanistan and Cambodia in their first two qualifiers. However, Hong Kong will arguably face their stiffest test against Stimac's men, who are also coming off successive wins.Aditya Warty@AnalystAdiIndia rising to the occasion in the 3rd Round of Qualification- Qualified for AFC Asian Cup 2019 with 2 games to spare (Won the opening 4 games) Qualified for AFC Asian Cup 2023 with a game to spare (Won the opening 2 games) #IndianFootball #BackTheBlue #BlueTigers8812India rising to the occasion in the 3rd Round of Qualification- Qualified for AFC Asian Cup 2019 with 2 games to spare (Won the opening 4 games) ✌️😎Qualified for AFC Asian Cup 2023 with a game to spare (Won the opening 2 games) 💪👏#IndianFootball #BackTheBlue #BlueTigers https://t.co/NEuCFTmX7kThe two teams last locked horns in 2010, with Hong Kong winning 1-0 on that occasion. However, the Blue Tigers have won seven of their 15 meetings with Hong Kong overall, with four ending in draws.