Football World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: India beat Kuwait 1-0 to go second in qualification table
Indian Football Team (Source-Twitter)
The race for qualifications for the Football World Cup 2026 in the AFC began on Thursday. Sunil Chettri led Indian Football team is in group A along with Qatar, Kuwait, and Afghanistan.
On Thursday Manvir Singh’s 75th minute goal helped India beat Kuwait with a 1-0 margin. There was a capacity crowd that had come to watch the two teams play the game on Thursday. Team India left the home team and its fans stunned with some amazing display right through the game.
The next challenge for Igor Stimac and his side will be from Qatar who were the hosts of the 2022 tournament. In the history of Football World Cups, the Indian team has never qualified. This win will help Indian football fans believe that they can dream of qualifications for the 2026 World Cup edition.
India starts Football World Cup qualifiers with a win –
Manvir Singh headed home the winning goal for the Indian Football Team in the 75th minute as he made contact with a ball from the left flank. The goal came after sustained pressure from the visitors as they created many chances against a resolute Kuwaiti defense.
Once the final whistle blew the Indian Football players and its support staff were overjoyed. India has never been able to progress beyond the second round in the Football World Cup Qualifiers. This win also denotes the work put in by Igor Stimac as he aims to put India in the global football map.
Team India has been called the ‘Sleeping Giant’ of World Football, but on Thursday they played like true champions. Right from attack to defense, each of the players played their role to perfection. There was no slack or lazy passing, the counter-attacks were perfectly planned out. Even the mid-field passed the ball around with ease and created chances.
Qatar had begun their Football World Cup 2026 qualifiers with a huge win over Afghanistan. Almoez Ali scored four goals as he guided his side to an emphatic 8-1 win in front of a packed crowd. The Afghanistan side stood no chance to the wave after wave of chances created.
21st of November, Qatar visit India for the second game of the Group A phase. The Indian team will be quietly confident to be playing in front of their passionate fans at home. If India does manage to beat or hold Qatar to a draw the Blue Tigers will be moving in the right direction as far as qualification is concerned.
