Whom did India lose against?
The Indian men’s soccer team recently lost 0-3 to Qatar in the second round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC qualifiers at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. This means India is in third place in Group A with one win and one loss.
This loss also ended India's 15-game unbeaten run at home. India’s second-round World Cup qualifying campaign started with a 1-0 win over Kuwait.
Are India's qualification chances over after this defeat?
India still has a chance to qualify for the next round. They are in Group A with Qatar, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. Every team will play against each other twice. In March 2024, the Indian men's football team will play against Afghanistan twice. Later in 2024, they will play against Kuwait and Qatar again.
India needs to be one of the top two teams to move to the next round.
What’s the qualification process for the Asian teams?
A total of nine groups are there in the second round. The top two teams from each group will go to the third round. The 18 qualified teams will be divided into three groups of six teams each. The top two teams in each group (6 teams in total) will directly play in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The teams that come in third and fourth in each group will move on to the fourth round, divided into two groups of three teams each. The first-placed team from the two groups will join the initial six teams in the 2026 World Cup.
The second-placed teams from the two groups will go to the fifth round. These two teams will play a two-leg match in 2025. The winner will then play against five other nations in the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.
How many Asian teams can qualify for the tournament?
Eight teams from Asia can directly qualify. One more Asian team can join by playing in the FIFA Play-Off Tournament. Canada, the USA, and Mexico will co-host the World Cup.
For the first time, 48 teams will play. In the past, only 32 teams played in the World Cup. This means more teams can now join, and India has a chance, even though it will be tough. Let's all cheer for the Indian football team and hope they make it!
