FIFA World Cup qualifiers: Head coach Igor Stimac feels there is nothing to lose ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against the Asian champions.
This is probably the only Indian city where the words “World Cup” do not evoke only despair. Last Thursday’s 1-0 win against Kuwait has led to a spike in demand for tickets to Tuesday’s game. But given that India are up against Asian champions Qatar who “destroyed”, as per India head coach Igor Stimac, Afghanistan 8-1, hope needs to be tempered by a dollop of reality.
“There is nothing to lose for us and a hell of a lot to gain. So, let’s go for it,” said Stimac in Bhubaneswar on Monday.
Without Sunil Chhetri, India was the only Asian side to earn a point from Qatar in 2019. It is India’s only point from three World Cup qualifiers against the team that defeated Japan 3-1 in the 2019 Asian Cup final. Gurpreet Sandhu made 11 saves as India held Qatar to a 0-0 tie despite Qatar having 27 shots (India had two) and 15 corner kicks (India had one).
“I’d rather work less and get the same or better result,” Sandhu remarked ahead of this 2026 World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup qualification.
But, according to Stimac, that game in Doha was preceded by roughly two months of training. “Four years later, the reconstruction is finished, but it won’t stop.” Stimac stated that India has progressed from a side that struggled to take the game to Bangladesh and Afghanistan, both of which were come-from-behind draws following the unexpected result against Qatar, “because players such as Sandesh Jhingan, Brandon Fernandes, and Rowllin Borges were not available.”
According to Stimac, they can now play 11 games against opponents such as Kuwait, Iraq, and Lebanon and keep clean sheets in some of them. And keep your home record unblemished. While he stated that he would always prefer Ashique Kuruniyan, Jeakson Singh, and Anwar Ali—all of whom are out with long-term injuries—the difference now is that there are many young players who have gone through the process and understand that the pace in the Indian Super League (ISL) is different from that of an international game. “So, now we won’t get caught if there is an injury.”
Manvir Singh should be added to the list above. The man who scored the game-winning goal against Kuwait may not be available on Tuesday. On Monday evening, he skipped training, which was followed by a long blast from a fogging machine minutes before the India bus arrived at Kalinga Stadium.
If India misses Manvir’s physical presence on the right, Stimac may opt for a 4-3-3 formation. The midfield might thus be made up of Anirudh Thapa, Suresh Wangjam, and Lalengmawia Ralte. Sahal Abdul Samad could also play in midfield. Sunil Chhetri’s front three might include Mahesh Naorem and Udanta Singh on either side.
“India once had a good group of players.” “Now I see a team,” Qatar coach Carlos Queiroz stated, referring to his time as Iran’s coach during the 2016 qualifying season. Qatar is the world’s 61st-ranked squad, 31 places ahead of India. However, they have had a dismal World Cup and an under-20 Asian championship, where they also lost all three group league games, including 1-9 to Australia.
This group has 12 players with World Cup experience, including Asian Cup golden boot winner Ali Alomez and midfielder Hassan Al-Haydos. “Being in charge of a team for four years is a huge advantage,” but we didn’t start from scratch,” Queiroz explained.Qatar may have started with a massive win, but he wants more.
Frequently asked questions
Who won India vs Qatar?
Head-to-Head Match Between India and Qatar
Qatar has won two matches and India has drawn one (2019). In their previous meeting, which took place during World Cup Qualification in 2021, Qatar defeated their Indian counterparts by a close 1-0 result.
Which country qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Qualified teams
| Team | Method of qualification | Current consecutive appearances |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Hosts | 2 |
| Mexico | Hosts | 9 |
| United States | Hosts | 2 |
Is India in FIFA World Cup qualifiers?
India has never competed in the FIFA World Cup, though they did qualify by default for the 1950 World Cup after all of the other countries in their qualification group withdrew.
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