The Indian senior men’s football team embarked on its FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers second-round journey with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Kuwait in Kuwait City. The lone goal of the match came in the 75th minute, courtesy of Indian winger Manvir Singh, securing a crucial win for the 102nd-ranked Indian side.
The early stages of the match saw Kuwait dominating possession, keeping the Indian team restricted to its own half. However, as the game progressed, the Indian midfielders showcased improvement, creating opportunities for the strikers. Sahal Abdul Samad and Sunil Chhetri had notable chances in the first half, but the score remained level going into the break.
The Indian defense, led by Sandesh Jhingan, proved to be resilient, denying Kuwait’s strikers any clear-cut opportunities in the initial half. The teams entered the second half with the deadlock intact, but the dynamics of the game were about to change.
Kuwait intensified its efforts in the second half, looking for a breakthrough. However, the Indian defense held firm, and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sidhu made crucial saves to keep Kuwait at bay. The turning point came in the 75th minute when Manvir Singh received a well-placed cross from Lallianzuala Chhangte and unleashed a half-volley into the net, giving India a crucial lead.
Despite a red card for Faizal Zaid Al-Harbi of Kuwait in stoppage time, India had to stay focused to secure the victory. The defensive resilience and clinical finishing by Manvir Singh ensured that India started its World Cup qualifying campaign on a positive note.
This victory holds significance for India as it looks ahead to challenging encounters in Group A. The next match is slated against World number 61 Qatar on November 21. Group A also includes Afghanistan, setting the stage for a competitive round-robin format where each team faces the others in home-and-away fixtures.
The ultimate goal for the teams in this stage is to secure a spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC qualifiers third round. Additionally, the top two finishers in the group will earn a direct qualification to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, adding extra importance to every match in the qualifying campaign. The win over Kuwait provides momentum for the Indian team as it navigates the challenges on the road to the FIFA World Cup.
