Manvir Singh's late goal proved decisive as India secured a 1-0 victory over Kuwait in their 2026 FIFA World Cup second-round qualifiers clash on Thursday. The match, held at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, saw Manvir strike with a precise left-footed shot in the 75th minute, capitalizing on a well-executed cross from Lallianzuala Chhangte.
As the game concluded, Kuwait found themselves down to 10 men, with Faisal Alharbi receiving his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card in the third minute of added time for a high boot challenge on Chhangte.
Looking ahead, India is set to face Asian champions Qatar on November 21 in Bhubaneswar. The stakes remain high for the Indian team, placed in Group A alongside Qatar, Kuwait, and Afghanistan. The top two teams from the group will advance to the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Additionally, securing a spot in the top two will also guarantee qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
Notably, the Blue Tigers have never progressed to the third round of the AFC's FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Currently ranked 106th in the world, India's previous encounter with Kuwait (149th) resulted in victory through a penalty shootout during the SAFF Championships final in July.
The triumph against Kuwait underscores India's determination in the ongoing qualifiers, and the upcoming clash against Qatar presents an opportunity for the team to further solidify their standing in the group. As the journey unfolds, Indian football enthusiasts eagerly await the prospect of witnessing their team make history by advancing to the elusive third round of the AFC's FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Meanwhile, the next edition FIFA World Cup in 2026 promises to be bigger and better, with the biggest sporting event in the world set to transform from a 32-team to a 48-team tournament.
In what will be the first time that three countries — USA, Canada and Mexico — will host the World Cup, the expanded format will now have a total of 104 matches instead of the 64 games that had been the norm since the 1998 FIFA World Cup, which was also the last time that the organising body of football in the world last made changes to the format of the tournament. The same was confirmed by the global soccer governing body on Tuesday.
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