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India’s hopes of qualifying for the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffered a huge blow after losing 2-1 to Afghanistan in Guwahati on Tuesday.
Will a loss take India out of contention?
No, India is still second in the group at the moment. If Kuwait fail to win against Qatar late on Tuesday, that will remain the case at the end of matchday four of the group. India will play Kuwait in June and it will be a must-win match.
Current status of the group:
What does India need to do to qualify for the next round?
If we look at the long-term, short-term and medium-term situation, India needs to beat Kuwait. Kuwait will play Afghanistan in the final match, and a draw is probably more likely than not, considering that a win for either side would put them ahead of India.
India are unbeaten in three games against Kuwait in 2023, including a 1-0 win against Kuwait City in November at the start of this qualifying round, but since then It seems like a long time ago now, considering India’s disastrous qualifying performance.
India drew with Kuwait twice in the SAFF Championship held in Bangalore in early 2023, so it is clear that it is an even contest between the two teams and a victory for India is not a definitive conclusion.
If India wins against Kuwait, they will move up to seven points, meaning they will not be able to catch up with Kuwait. If Afghanistan lose to Qatar in their next match, they will need to beat Kuwait by a large margin to catch up with India, with Ashley Westwood’s side having a lower goal difference after losing 8-1 to Qatar in their opening game. are seriously affected.
What if India draws against Kuwait?
In order to qualify for the next spot, they must achieve a result in the final game of the season against Qatar. If India loses to Qatar, the winner of Kuwait vs Afghanistan will advance to the next round. If Kuwait and Afghanistan also draw, India will need a point against Qatar. The loss against Afghanistan made it clear that even if Qatar had qualified at that point, it would likely be a bit tough on India and they might make some changes to the squad. .
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