India (IND) travels to Saudi Arabia to face Afghanistan (AFG) in the third match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup & 2027 AFC Asian Cup Joint Qualifiers Round 2.
AFG vs IND Match Details
Date: Thursday, 21 March 2024 / Friday, 22 March 2024
Time: 22:00 (KSA) / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Damac Stadium, Saudi Arabia
AFG vs IND Match Preview
After several of the players boycotted the national team in dispute with the board, Afghanistan will be taking on India in the next two matches with a weakened squad. The Lions of Khorasan suffered in the two games played so far in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, an 8-1 humiliation to Qatar and then a 4-0 defeat against Kuwait. Sitting bottom of the table with no points and severed goal difference, only a miracle could keep Afghanistan in contention for the top two in the table. The matches against the Blue Tigers will be crucial in this regard although both the two encounters in the previous World Cup qualifiers have ended 1-1. Afghanistan is managed by Ashley Westwood who is a well-known name in Indian football after his success at Bengaluru FC and also taking charge of clubs like ATK and Punjab FC. The team will depend upon his experience in India to achieve a positive result.
Following their disastrous Asian Cup campaign, eliminated from the group stages with no wins and goals scored, India will be taking to the pitch again in 2024 for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Placed third in their group, level on points with Kuwait after one win but separated by goal difference, the Blue Tigers have an excellent chance to seal a top-two spot and qualify for the third round of the World Cup qualifiers for the first time in history. Additionally, they will also make the group stages of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. India began their journey in the qualifiers last year with an important 1-0 away victory over Kuwait and then lost 3-0 to Asian champions Qatar but remained in a good place. Three points in the next three matches, two against Afghanistan and the home tie against Kuwait will be enough to fulfill their objective. Igor Stimac’s side will be focusing on ending their four-game losing run in their trip to Saudi Arabia having dominated the fixture against the Afghans, suffering only one loss in 11 meetings so far.
AFG vs IND Recent Form (all competitions)
AFG: LWWLL
IND: WLLLL
AFG vs IND Recent Form (World Cup Qualifiers)
AFG: DLWWL
IND: LWDWL
AFG vs IND Team News
Afghanistan has seen only two of the revolting players joining the squad. Meanwhile, Sahal Samad will miss out the clash for India after picking up an injury in training.
AFG vs IND Predicted Lineups
Afghanistan Football Team
Ovays Azizi; Zoheb Islam Amiri, Sharif Mukhammad, Mahboob Hanifi, Habibulla Askar; Omid Popalzay, Mustafa Azadzoy, Jabar Sharza, Rahmat Akbari; Balal Arezou, Omid Musawi
Indian Football Team
Gurpeet Singh Sandhu; Nikhil Poojary, Rahul Bheke, Anwar Ali, Akash Mishra; Apuia, Jeakson Singh; Manvir Singh, Noarem Mahesh, Lallianzuala Chhangte; Sunil Chhetri
AFG vs IND Head-to-Head (all competitions)
Played - 11
AFG won - 1
Drawn - 3
IND won - 7
Afghanistan vs India (AFG vs IND) Dream11 Match Prediction
India are the favorite to take all three points against a depleted Afghanistan team. We predict a 2-0 victory for the Blue Tigers.
Afghanistan vs India (AFG vs IND) Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Sunil Chhetri
Vice-captain Pick: Lallianzuala Chhangte
Others: Manvir Singh
Our top pick for the AFG vs IND Dream11 team is Sunil Chhetri who has scored four goals against Afghanistan in his career.
AFG vs IND Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Gurpreet (Cr - 8)
DEF: Muhammad (Cr - 8.5), Bose (Cr - 8), Mishra (Cr - 7.5)
MID: Chhangte (Cr - 8.5), Azadzoy (Cr - 8), Mahesh (Cr - 7.5), Popalzay (Cr - 8.5)
FW: Manvir (Cr - 8), Chettri (Cr - 9), Arezou (Cr - 9)
Vice-captain: Lallianzuala Chhangte
Captain: Sunil Chhetri
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