Can India Secure World Cup Success with Victory over Qatar?
Source: Indian Football Twitter
Today, India’s 0-0 draw against Kuwait at the Salt Lake Stadium sets up a challenging scenario for Igor Stimac’s team in their quest to reach the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. With their final game away against Qatar, India must secure at least a point to remain in contention.
In the group standings, Qatar leads with 12 points from 5 matches, boasting 4 wins and 1 draw. India sits in second place with 5 points from 5 matches, having 1 win, 2 losses, and 2 draws. Afghanistan, also with 5 points, is level with India but lags due to a poorer goal difference. Kuwait, just one point behind India with 4 points from 5 matches, faces an easier final game at home against Afghanistan, in contrast to India’s tough away fixture against Qatar. Compounding India’s challenge, they will be without their legendary striker, Sunil Chhetri.
Afghanistan’s commendable 0-0 draw against Qatar adds another layer to the competitive group dynamics. Here’s what India needs to do to advance:
The simplest and most direct route for India to advance is to defeat Qatar. A victory would ensure that Kuwait cannot overtake India, and Afghanistan would need an unlikely eight-goal win against Kuwait to surpass India. Such a monumental win for India would be celebrated as one of the greatest victories in their football history.
However, let’s consider a more realistic scenario. If Afghanistan and Kuwait play to a draw, and India also secures a draw against Qatar, the final standings would see Kuwait with 5 points, and both India and Afghanistan with 6 points. In this case, India would advance due to a superior goal difference over Afghanistan.
There is a glimmer of hope for India as Qatar has decided to rest several key players, including Akram Afif, Almoez Ali, Hassan Al Haydos, Bassam Al Rawi, Pedro Miguel, and Lucas Mendes. This could make Qatar a less formidable opponent.
If India progresses to the third round of World Cup qualifiers, they will join the top 18 nations in Asia, divided into three groups of six teams. This would entail playing 10 matches (5 home and 5 away) against some of the best teams on the continent. While it might be overly optimistic to expect India to be highly competitive against these teams, the experience and exposure could be invaluable for the growth of Indian football.
Moreover, securing second place in their current group would mean direct qualification for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia. If they fail to secure this spot, they will face additional qualifiers for the tournament, where India aims to make its third consecutive appearance.
Thus, the immediate future of Indian football in the World Cup qualifiers hinges on a heroic performance in Qatar, reminiscent of their 0-0 draw in 2019, and hope for Afghanistan to hold Kuwait. If these stars align, it could pave the way for a historic achievement and significant progress for Indian football on the global stage.
