After a quiet AFC Asian Cup recently, all eyes are on the Indian men’s football team for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers round 2 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Preliminary Joint Qualification. For the same, the Blue Tigers will play two matches against Afghanistan — On March 21 in Saudi Arabia, and in Guwahati on March 26.
Head coach Igor Stimac announced the 35 probables for the two fixtures.
Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Phurba Tempa Lachenpa, Vishal Kaith.
Defenders: Akash Mishra, Lalchungnunga, Mehtab Singh, Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, Nikhil Chandrashekhar Poojary, Subhasish Bose, Narender, Anwar Ali, Roshan Singh Naorem, Amey Ganesh Ranawade, Jay Gupta.
Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Liston Colaco, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Sahal Abdul Samad, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Deepak Tangri, Lalthathanga Khawlhring, Lalengmawia Ralte, Imran Khan.
Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Ishan Pandita, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Manvir Singh, Vikram Partap Singh, Rahul Kannoly Praveen, Nandhakumar Sekar, Isak Vanlalruatfela.
