FIFA World Cup qualifiers: Manvir Singh scored India’s lone goal in Kuwait, India will play Qatar in Bhubaneshwar next.
Coaches have opted to value Manvir Singh’s towering presence on an Indian team that is typically lacking in height. When Igor Stimac brought up the issue of his team’s lack of height against Kuwait in their first World Cup qualifier Round 2 away encounter, Manvir was once again the band-aid that would have to be applied. On late Thursday night, the Mohun Bagan forward was the holding man for the front line and scored the game’s sole goal, giving India a 1-0 lead in their FIFA 2026 World Cup qualification campaign.
Of all the expatriate populations in Kuwait, India has the greatest demographic of immigrants, with little under 10 lakh individuals living in the Middle Eastern country. That demography outnumbered Kuwaiti fans, who were outnumbered by Indians in the 60,000-seat Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium. When India controlled the ball, the applause became even louder, especially when Sahal Abdul Samad, the Indian attacking midfielder who spent his formative years in Kuwait, had the ball.
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This was the third encounter between the two sides this year, with the first being noted for its excellence and the second for the intense clashes that culminated with India winning the SAFF Cup in a penalty shootout. Sunday was a lot more lackluster, with Kuwait controlling the game for long stretches but never really threatening Gurpreet Singh’s goal and India controlling any incursions from their opponents but lacking the technical ability to keep the ball and link excellent passes together.
India had one chance in the first half, when a Nikhil Poojary cutback was skied over the crossbar by skipper Sunil Chhetri. The opportunity arose from yet another Indian high-press, a style of play that was developed and refined throughout the first half of the year and has since been a national team staple.
Kuwait started the second half stronger, but that rush of energy evaporated quickly. While they were adept at maintaining the ball, they were terrible at using it. Cramps began to form in their legs, and India found themselves with time running out and the potential to score a late goal.
That opportunity arrived in the 75th minute. Akash Mishra’s move down the left wing saw him sneak past the Kuwaiti midfield and provide a pass for Lallianzuala Chhangte. The Mizoram winger, who usually plays on the right and was brought on as a substitute, threaded a ball into the Kuwait box. Manvir, who had one stride on left-back Sultan Al-Enezi, raised his left foot and directed the ball into Abdulrahman Kameel’s near post to commemorate his comeback to the national team.
This victory seemed improbable only a few weeks ago. Anwar Ali, a calm center defender, and Jeakson Singh, a metronome of a passer who rarely gives the ball away, were both injured and out. The importance of how this Indian team plays, as well as the lack of depth in comparable players, guaranteed that this would have to be a hard-fought game.
India came out on top, giving them a significant advantage in the group. They will play the defending Asian Champions, Qatar, in Bhubaneswar next. In a previous match on Thursday, Qatar defeated Afghanistan, the other member of Group A, 8-1. India will now face the difficult Qatar test in four days.
Frequently asked questions
Is India qualified for the FIFA World Cup?
While the Indian men’s football team has competed in four Olympic Games, it has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup main draw. India has also competed in the AFC Asian Cup four times – in 1964, 1984, 2011, and 2019, and has qualified for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, which will be held in Qatar.
Who will qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Qualified teams
| Team | Method of qualification | Previous best performance |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Hosts | Group stage (1986, 2022) |
| Mexico | Hosts | Quarter-finals (1970, 1986) |
| United States | Hosts | Third place (1930) |
Is Argentina qualified for World Cup?
Argentina lost for the first time in World Cup qualifying, but maintained its lead in the CONMEBOL rankings with 12 points. Uruguay’s victory moved them up to 10 points and sole possession of second place in the standings after they began the match tied with Brazil and Venezuela.
Will Messi play 2026 World Cup?
‘We’ll see’: Messi unsure about 2026 World Cup
“I don’t know if I will get there,” he told Argentine media personality Miguel Garrados in an interview broadcast on YouTube on Thursday. “I don’t think about it yet because it is far away.” For now, Messi said he is focused on the 2024 U.S.-hosted Copa America tournament.
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