When the draw for the AFC Round 2 Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup was made last year, India was touted to make it through to the third round for the first time in their history, having grouped with Qatar, Kuwait, and Afghanistan. The Blue Tigers added to that belief by defeating Kuwait 1-0 in the opener away from home in November 2023. Igor Stimac’s side was in a romp, winning three trophies before that, but everything went deserted soon after that result. India suffered a 3-0 defeat to Qatar in the next match and followed it with the worst Asian Cup campaign in their history, held in the Middle Eastern state in January 2024, where they failed to get even a single point or score a goal.
Still, fans believed that the team would bounce back
strongly in the next two qualifier games against a depleted Afghanistan side
due to political reasons. However, the senior men’s side disappointed once
again, hitting one of its lowest points in history. After bowing out of the
Asian Cup, head coach Igor Stimac expressed that India’s focus is now all about
qualifying for the third round of the World Cup Qualifiers, although their
performance on the pitch showed something else.
Returning to action in March, they played out a goalless stalemate with Afghanistan in the away match at Saudi Arabia, but it was nothing compared to the result that followed. India lost 2-1 in the second match of this fixture only three days later in Guwahati, with Sunil Chhetri’s penalty goal on his 150th landmark appearance proving indecisive. The Lions of Khorasan made a remarkable comeback in the second half to collect their first win of the qualifiers, landing the Blue Tigers in deep trouble.
How can India qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers AFC Third Round?
Despite the defeat, India managed to keep their position second on the table, collecting four points from four matches, and Kuwait, now
at the bottom with only three points, lost twice to Asian Champions Qatar in
the other matches of the group. Only the top two sides in the group will
proceed to the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers and will also seal
automatic qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup. The Blue Tigers remain in prime
position to move into the next round of the qualifiers.
The problem is that they have allowed Afghanistan to climb
up to third, level on points but separated by goal difference, having lost
heavily in the first two games of the qualifiers before facing the Blue Tigers.
It has opened up a three-horse race. The Lions of Khorasan will face Qatar and
Kuwait in the last two matches, whereas India has to battle Kuwait first in
June. It seems Afghanistan has a difficult schedule compared to the rest, which
might hinder their qualification chances.
For India to qualify for the third round, they have to win against Kuwait to take their tally to seven points. In that case, Kuwait will fail to finish second on the table even if they take three points against Afghanistan in their final qualifier game of Round 2. However, anything other than a victory will make it hard for the Blue Tigers, as they have to face group winners Qatar away in the last match. So, Stimac’s team has to turn their awful form around in the deciding match against Kuwait at Salt Lake to stand any chance of qualification and hope Afghanistan do not get more than three points in their remaining fixtures.
2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers AFC Round 2 Group A Points Table
|
Team |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
Goal
Difference |
Points |
|
Qatar |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
+14 |
12 |
|
India |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-3 |
4 |
|
Afghanistan |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-10 |
4 |
|
Kuwait |
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
-1 |
3 |
