How Can Indian Football Team Qualify For 2026 FIFA World Cup Despite Loss To Afghanistan In Qualifiers – Scenarios Explained

New Delhi: India were dealt with a huge blow when they lost to Afghanistan on Tuesday in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers despite Sunil Chhetri’s 94th international goal in his 150th match. The loss not only embarrassed Indian football but also reflected the mess the sport currently finds itself in the country. Going into the game as the 117-ranked side, India took the lead through Chhetri. However, Afghans hit back in the second half with goals from Rahmat Akbari (71st) and Sharif Mukhammad (88th).

Despite the loss, India still are placed second in Group A of the AFC Qualifiers. The Blue Tigers have four points from four games and still have two matches left in the group.

Did Afghanistan Loss Impact India?

With Kuwait losing to Qatar on Tuesday, India need to win both their remaining matches at any cost to advance to the third round. India host Kuwait on June 6 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. Five days later, India travel to Qatar to play their final group game at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. India will also hope Afghanistan (4 points) and Kuwait (3 points) to lose points in their remaining games, to advance into the third round.

What India Need To Do?

A win against Kuwait and a draw against Qatar would be enough for India to qualify for the second round. In case, India lose against Kuwait, the dream of 1.4 billion ends there. Even if India play out a draw against Kuwait, it won’t help Chhetri and Co. Kuwait will face Afghanistan on the final matchday and a win for any of the teams will take them above India to second place. For the record, India have been unbeaten against Kuwait since 2023 in three games. That will give them a lot of confidence.

If India win against Kuwait, it will take them to seven points, ensuring the latter won’t be able to catch Igor Stimac’s side. If India lose to Kuwait, the winner of Kuwait vs Afghanistan match will join Qatar through to the next round. Qatar have already qualified to the third round.

Other Scenarios

In the third round, eighteen teams who advanced from the second round (nine group winners and the nine group runners-up) will be divided into three groups of six teams. The teams will play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The top two teams of each group qualify directly for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The third and fourth-placed teams advance to the fourth round.

If India qualify for the third round but fail to attain a top two position, they will go to the fourth round and try their luck. In the fourth round, six teams will be divided into two groups of three teams each. The top teams in both the groups qualify directly to the main tournament while the second-best sides go to the fifth round. They play against each other over two legs to determine which team advances to the inter-confederation play-offs. In the inter-confederation play-offs, the fifth-round winner will join one team each from CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC and two from CONCACAF.

The teams will be ranked according to the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, with the four lowest-ranked teams playing in two single-elimination matches. The winners will meet the two highest-ranked teams in another set of single-elimination matches, with the winners of these matches qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.