The AFC World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Fixtures has been revealed. Sunil Chhetri’s Indian football squad has been put in Group A, with Asian champion Qatar, and Kuwait. The winner of the match between Afghanistan and Mongolia will also join the group. India will begin their campaign from November 16th against Kuwait.
Beginning in Pot 2 of the Qualifiers, India, ranked 99th in FIFA, will meet Qatar (59th) and Kuwait (137th). Along with the winners of the match between Afghanistan (157th) and Mongolia (183rd) in a home-and-away double round-robin format.
The fixtures are:
- Kuwait vs India – 16.11.23
- India vs Qatar- 21.11.23
- Afghanistan/ Mongolia vs India – 21.03.24
- India vs Afghanistan/ Mongolia- 26.03.24
- India vs Kuwait- 06.06. 24
- Qatar vs India- 11.06.23
Blues boss Igor Stimac URGES preparation for Asian Games, World Cup Qualifiers
In the SAFF Championship, India has met Kuwait twice, with both matches finishing 1-1. However, earlier this month in Bengaluru, the Blue Tigers effectively converted a penalty shootout in the SAFF Final into their eighth sub-continental title.
Igor Stimac’s team has previously competed in the World Cup Qualifiers alongside Qatar. They then put up a number of impressive displays against the defending AFC Asian Cup Champions, drawing 0-0 before falling 0-1.
Afghanistan and Mongolia, who will play each other in the Round 1 Qualifiers, have both recently played against India. The former were teammates in Group D of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers last year in Kolkata, which India won 2-1. Meanwhile, Mongolia defeated India in the Intercontinental Cup earlier this year in Bhubaneswar, with the Blue Tigers winning 2-0.
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