India’s 15-match winning streak came to an end as they faced a 3-0 defeat against Qatar in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Group A match on Tuesday at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
The Qatar team dominated from the early stages, with Mustafa Meshaal finding the net at the 4th minute, followed by Almoez Ali’s goal in the 47th minute and Yusuf Abdurisag sealing the victory in the 86th minute. The loss places India at the third spot in Group A, having secured a win against Kuwait in their previous qualifier match.
India showed signs of recovery in the first half, with increased passes into the box and attempts at goal, notably by skipper Sunil Chhetri. Lalengmawia Ralte and Udanta Singh displayed confidence in handling the ball, causing errors in the Qatari defense. However, Anirudh Thapa’s attempt went wide, missing India’s best chance to score.
The start of the second half saw Qatar extending their lead, as Akram Afif netted the rebound after his initial shot was saved in the 47th minute. Qatar maintained dominance throughout the second half, preventing Indian strikers from making significant progress. The visitors sealed the victory with Yusuf Abdurisag’s header in the 86th minute.
India will resume their qualifiers campaign in March with home and away fixtures against Afghanistan, followed by reverse fixtures against Kuwait and Qatar later in 2024.
The top two finishers in the group will make it to the FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC qualifiers third round while also earning a direct spot into the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
The rise of subscription services are changing how consumers experience brands.