FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers India Schedule: The Indian Football Team is participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier Round 2 and is placed in Group A, alongside Qatar, Kuwait and Afghanistan. The competition started on 16 November 2023 and will end on 11 June 2024. Check out the important details about the India FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2026 and the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Table below.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers India Overview
| Article Name | FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers India Schedule |
| Event Name | FIFA World Cup Qualification Round 2 |
| Promotion to | FIFA World Cup Qualification Round 3 and Qualify for AFC Asian Cup 2027 |
| Indian Football team captain | Sunil Chhetri |
| Placed in | Group A |
| No. of Matches for India | 6 |
| FIFA Ranking | 121 (as of 4 April 2024) |
| Tickets | Bookmyshow |
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Table 2026
All the teams in Group A have played 4 matches each, out of which Qatar is leading in the points, followed by India in the 2nd position. Kuwait and Afghanistan are in the 3rd and 4th positions. Check out the detailed FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Table presented below.
Points Table FIFA World Cup Qualifier 2026
The winner of the match earns 3 points, and the loser gets 0 points. And if the game is drawn, both teams gets 1 point each.
| Teams | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qatar | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | +14 | 12 |
| India | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 4 |
| Afghanistan | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 13 | -10 | 4 |
| Kuwait | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 3 |
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers India Fixtures
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers India Schedule
| Date | Time | Teams | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Nov 2023 | 10 PM (IST) | Kuwait vs India | Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait | India |
| 21 Nov 2023 | 7 PM (IST) | India vs Qatar | Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar | Qatar |
| 21 Mar 2024 | 12.30 AM (IST) | Afghanistan vs India | Damac Stadium, Abha | Draw |
| 26 Mar 2024 | 7.30 PM (IST) | India vs Afghanistan | Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati | Afghanistan |
| 6 Jun 2024 | TBD | India vs Kuwait | TBD | TBD |
| 11 Jun 2024 | TBD | Qatar vs India | TBD | TBD |
How can India Qualify for the FIFA World Cup Qualifier Round 3
India has completed 4 matches out of 6. The team has lost 2 games and won only 1. The recent defeat was against Afghanistan, played on 26 March 2024.
As per the rules, the top two teams in the points table will advance to the Qualifier Round 3 and qualify for the AFC Asian Cup 2027. But to stick in the 2nd position, India will have to win the remaining 2 matches.
The next match of India is with Kuwait, followed by the last game of the group stage with Qatar. India still has a chance of qualifying if they win against Kuwait and Qatar. However, winning against Qatar will be difficult for the Indian team, and drawing the match will not help either.
If Afghanistan wins the remaining 2 matches, their total points will be 11, and India, if they win only 1 match and draw against Qatar, their total score will be 8. This indicates that their 2 position in the points table is unstable, and by hook or by crook, India has to win the remaining 2 matches to qualify for the 3rd round.
Has India ever Qualified for the FIFA World Cup Qualifier Round 3
The Indian Football Team has appeared in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 10 times. The years are 1986, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026. None of the time, India could qualify for the FIFA Qualifier Third Round.
| Year | Round |
|---|---|
| 1986 | First Round |
| 1994 | First Round |
| 1998 | First Round |
| 2002 | First Round |
| 2006 | Second Round |
| 2010 | First Round |
| 2014 | Second Round |
| 2018 | Second Round |
| 2022 | Second Round |
| 2026 | TBD |
What if Afghanistan and India End Up Having The Same Points?
India and Afghanistan have 2 remaining matches to play in June. Both teams have the same points; if they win both matches, their points will go up to 11. If they win a game and draw a match, their points will be the same at 8. So, on what basis will the qualification for round 3 be decided?
In such situations the Goal Difference of both the teams will be considered. In simple words the team will less GD will qualify.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers India Schedule
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier Round 2 has started and will continue until 11 June 2024. The Indian Football team is a part of this tournament and is placed in Group A, which includes Qatar, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. As per the schedule, India will play 6 matches (2 matches with each team) out of which India has completed 3 games (1 match with the other 3 teams).
India will play the next match against with Kuwait on June 6; the last game will be against Qatar on June 11, 2024. The venue of last 2 matches is yet to be revealed.
Important Links
| FIFA Official Website | Link |
| All India Football Federation | Link |
| Indian Football Facebook | Link |
| Indian Football Twitter | Link |
| World Sports Gallery | Link |
FAQs on FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers India Schedule
Who won India vs Afghanistan football?
The India vs Afghanistan FIFA Qualifier match was won by the Afghanistan National Football Team.