Indian football team coach Igor Stimac on Saturday announced the 23-member India squad for their final FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 match against Qatar. Notably, this is the first squad announcement since the retirement of Indian legend Sunil Chhetri. Stimac was evidently not happy with the draw against Kuwait. Mohun Bagan captain Subhashish Bose paid the price for it by being dropped for the match against Qatar.
Draw against Kuwait leaves India in a lurch
India play Qatar in their final Group A match at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan on Tuesday, June 11. Courtesy of their 0-0 draw against Kuwait in Kolkata, the Blue Tigers sit at the second spot in Group A with 5 points to their name.
How can India qualify?
They will need a win against the two-time Asian champions to qualify for the third round. However, a draw to also ensure qualification for Chhetri-less India. But Afghanistan, who sit at the third place, will have to draw with Kuwait in their last game.
Life after Sunil Chhetri
This is the first Indian football team squad after a long time that does not have the name of Sunil Chhetri. Chhetri announced his retirement from International football recently and played his last match against Kuwait at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
It remains to be seen who Igor Stimac replaces the talismanic striker with for the game against Qatar, but it is expected that either Rahim Ali or Manveer Singh will assume the no. 9 role for India.
India’s 23-member squad
Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Vishal Kaith.
Defenders: Anwar Ali, Jay Gupta, Mehtab Singh, Narender, Nikhil Poojary, Rahul Bheke.
Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Edmund Lalrindika, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Liston Colaco, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Nandhakumar Sekar, Sahal Abdul Samad, Suresh Singh Wangjam.
Forwards: Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Vikram Partap Singh, David Lalhlansanga.
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