FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: India's litmus test against Qatar, apart from Sunil Chhetri, goalkeeper Gurpreet will have a big responsibility

Today is a big day for the Indian football team. After defeating Kuwait 1-0 in the first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the team will now take the field against Qatar. The team will have to win this match to be played at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar at any cost. This is the toughest challenge India faces in Group A.

India defeated Kuwait 1-0 in the first match of the qualifiers, so the team's morale is high. This match is on home ground, so the Indian team will give tough competition to the guests. Four years ago, India played a goalless draw against Qatar in the second round of qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup played in 2019. Qatar was in tremendous form at that time and had won the Asia Cup title in early 2019. In such a situation, India surprised everyone by drawing the match. Even today fans expect a similar performance from the Indian team.

Interestingly, Indian captain and veteran player Sunil Chhetri did not play in that match played in 2019. Chhetri was out of the match due to injury. But today Chhetri is fully ready to make a splash. In such a situation, he will have to take a big responsibility.

In 2019, in Chhetri's absence, goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh took over the captaincy of the Indian team and performed brilliantly. In such a situation, the onus will once again be on them to stop Qatar from scoring at Kalinga Stadium today. Indian defenders Anwar Ali and Jackson Singh will not play in this match.

Ali got injured during Mohun Bagan's AFC Cup match while Kerala Blasters player Jackson got injured in the Indian Super League match against Mumbai FC. In such a situation, stopping Qatar's star striker Almoiz Ali, who scored four goals against Afghanistan, will be the biggest challenge for the Indian team.

Apart from India and Qatar, there are teams from Kuwait and Afghanistan in Group A. The top two teams in the group will book their places at the 2027 AFC Asian Cup with the third round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Indian team has not reached the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers even once. So far three matches have been played between India and Qatar. Qatar has won two matches. One match has been a draw.