The Indian Senior Men’s Team, a 25-member squad, departed for Abha, Saudi Arabia, on Friday, March 15, 2024. This journey marks a significant milestone in Indian football as the team is set to participate in the second round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Preliminary Joint Qualification.
Enroute Saudi Arabia! ✈️
Blue Tigers 🐯 are on their way to Abha for the #FIFAWorldCupQualifiers! 🇮🇳 #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/lHS76i0vwq
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 15, 2024
The team, coached by Igor Stimac, will face Afghanistan on March 21, 2024, in Abha. This match will be followed by a home game against Afghanistan at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on March 26, 2024.
The squad includes notable players such as Jay Gupta from FC Goa and Imran Khan from Jamshedpur FC, both of whom have received their maiden India call-ups. Other key players include Anwar Ali and Jeakson Singh, who have returned to the squad after missing out on the AFC Asian Cup due to injuries.
India is currently third in Group A of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers with three points. They are tied with Kuwait, which is ahead on goal difference. India had a promising start to the qualifiers, defeating Kuwait (1-0) away from home in their first match. However, they faced a setback in their second match, losing to Qatar (0-3) in Bhubaneswar. Qatar currently leads Group A with six points.
Indian Squad for FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Vishal Kaith.
Defenders: Akash Mishra, Mehtab Singh, Rahul Bheke, Nikhil Poojary, Subhasish Bose, Anwar Ali, Amey Ranawade, Jay Gupta.
Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Liston Colaco, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Sahal Abdul Samad, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Deepak Tangri, Lalengmawia Ralte, Imran Khan.
Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Manvir Singh, Vikram Partap Singh.
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