India vs Qatar Highlights, FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying match in Doha: FT QAT 2-1 IND; Aymen, Al-Rawi help Qatar knock India out

That’s it from us in our coverage of the Qatar vs India clash in Doha, with the Blue Tigers’ World Cup Qualifying campaign ending in a heartbreak!

They were within touching distance of a first-ever appearance in the third round of the Qualifiers after going 1-0 at halftime with Kuwait and Afghanistan goalless in the other. Their dreams however, were shattered in a space of a few dramatic minutes in the second half thanks to a controversial goal by Aymen and Eid Al-Rashidi scoring the winner for Kuwait in the other clash.

For now, their dreams of playing their first-ever World Cup two years from now have been dashed. What’s more, the post-Chhetri era begins with a heartbreaking loss. But the kind of fight shown by the Blue Tigers today certainly should fill their fans with a lot of hope for the future.

On behalf of the sports desk at Firstpost, this is Amit signing off, bidding you all a good night!

FT Qatar 2-1 India

90+8’: FULL TIME IN DOHA! And with that, India’s campaign in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers comes to an end with a 2-1 loss at the hands of Group A toppers Qatar! Kuwait, who were lying at the bottom earlier today, join Qatar in the third round of the qualifiers after their 1-0 victory over Afghanistan in the other Group A clash.

India, however, will have every right to feel robbed tonight due to Qatar’s equaliser, in which Yousef Aymen slotted the ball in even after it had rolled out of the back-line for a goal-kick with the Indian defenders too switching off assuming the officials would do their part.

It surely would have been overturned had VAR been in place for the match. Then again, such errors do happen in sport from time to time and that is precisely while the implementation of review technology should be made mandatory in senior levels of professional sport.

Qatar 2-1 India

90+4’: Sahal is brought down inside the box while leading a desperate charge into the Qatari third, but the referee says play on. The attack eventually fizzles out and the Qataris produce a counter-attack, which also goes in vain. Meanwhile, Rahul Bheke has been shown a yellow card in injury time.

Qatar 2-1 India

90’: Seven minutes added in injury time! Meanwhile, Kuwait are in the lead against Afghanistan, meaning India will need an outright win against Qatar to qualify for the third round!

Qatar 2-1 India

89’: More changes rung in by Stimac with Lalrindika and Sekar coming in place of Chhangte and Gupta. A minute left in regulation time.

Qatar 1-1 India

82′: Golden chance for the Indians to regain the lead! Jay Gupta receives an excellent through ball from Liston, only for keeper Ali Nader to quickly swoop in and free the ball from his possession. Liston has a shy at the goalpost, but hardly gets anything on the shot. Gupta, meanwhile is injured after the collision with Nader and limps off the field.

Qatar 1-1 India

79’: Excellent clearance by Anwar Ali for a corner after a cross by Mansour into the box, with Al-Rawi waiting to pounce on it and fire in a potential winner. India desperately need to prevent Qatar from scoring a second goal. India later bring in Vikram Partap Singh in place of Manvir Singh.

Qatar 1-1 India

73’: GOAL! Yousef Aymen fires in the equaliser as Qatar go level with India! Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu however, is absolutely furious at the moment, vehemently gesturing at the officials that the ball had rolled out for a goal-kick, and that the goal should be disallowed.

Replays indeed confirm the same, with the Qatari forwards quietly dragging the ball back into play before slotting it in. This is an absolute howler from the officials!

Qatar 0-1 India

72’: LISTON COLACO IS OFFSIDE! He got into a one-on-one situation after being fed a pass from Sahal Abdul Samad, but the flag goes up!

Qatar 0-1 India

70’: Qatar make another change, bringing in Abdulla Al-Yazidi for Nabil Erfan. Another 20 minutes left on the clock. Can the Blue Tigers hold on to their slender lead?

Qatar 0-1 India

63’: India make a couple of changes shortly after the hour mark, with Sahal Abdul Samad and Liston Colaco replacing Rahim Ali and Brandon Fernandes.

Qatar 0-1 India

58’: Brandon Fernandes becomes the first Indian to enter the ref’s book, receiving a yellow card shortly before the hour mark. Meanwhile, Qatar make a fourth change in the following minute, bringing in Tameem Mansour in place of Mohammed Gouda.

Qatar 0-1 India

57’: Another chance goes begging for the Qataris, with Gouda receiving the ball in front of the left upright from a corner, only for his shot to sail over the horizontal bar. Been a nervy few minutes for the Indians now with the Qataris launching a series of attacks.

Qatar 0-1 India

54’: WHAT A SAVE BY MEHTAB! Second time he’s thwarted the Qataris from opening their account tonight! Al-Rawi receives the ball at the centre of the box after a pass from Khaled at the right flank, and goes for a full-blooded strike. Might have been tough for Gurpreet to block out and once again, he goes Mehtab for coming to his rescue!

Qatar 0-1 India

49’: Qatar launch an attack early on in the second half after bringing fresh legs into the field of play. Homam Ahmed puts in a low cross from the left flank that ultimately goes wide.

Qatar 0-1 India

46’: Play resumes at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, with Qatar making a major change in their lineup at the start of the second half — bringing Ali Nader in place of Ellethy in front of the goal. Also getting subbed are Al Ganehi and Shehata, with Homam Ahmed and Khalid Ali Sabah taking their places at the moment. No changes for India so far.

HT: Qatar 0-1 India

45+4’: HALFTIME at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, with Team India leading Qatar by a solitary goal — thanks to Lallianzuala Chhangte’s 37th-minute strike — at the moment! Can the hold on to their lead in the second half and pull off one of their most famous wins of all time? Or will ‘The Marooons’ claw back and hold the Blue Tigers to a draw, or even collect a win? Stay tuned to find out!

Qatar 0-1 India

45+3’: A second booking in a matter of minutes for the Qataris, with Al-Ganehi getting a yellow card now. Meanwhile, the half-time whistle should be blown any moment now.

Qatar 0-1 India

45’: A couple of minutes added in injury time once the clock completes 45 minutes. Meanwhile, Al-Rawi enters the referee’s book with a yellow card. Additionally, Mehtab needs the medical team’s attention for a bit colliding with Al-Rawi, getting a magic spray on his back.

Qatar 0-0 India

39’: Qatar attempt a counter-attack a couple of minutes after India’s opening strike with Al-Ganehi going for an ambitious attempt from a fair distance, only for the ball to fly wide.

Qatar 0-1 India

37’: LALLIANZUALA CHHANGTE PUTS INDIA IN THE LEAD! India finally put the ball past Qatari keeper Ellethy after a series of changes in the last 10 minute go begging! Brandon Fernandes puts in a low cross from the left flank and this time Mumbai City FC winger slides in to open his team’s account! With that, Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium erupts with joy with the Blue Pilgrims appearing to outnumber the Qatar fans in the stands right now!

Qatar 0-0 India

32’: GOLDEN CHANCE FOR THE INDIANS GOES BEGGING! Manvir managed to barge his way into the Qatari third and went for a shot from an acute angle on the right flank, almost getting into a one-on-one with the opposition keeper. The ball rebounds to Chhangte behind him, who is unable to finish the job, resulting in the hosts quickly regrouping and clearing the ball away to safety.

Qatar 0-0 India

30’: Half a hour into what has been a tightly-fought contest so far, and both teams are still goalless! Qatar had been the more attacking of the teams early on, with the Blue Tigers eventually catching up with the home team.

Qatar 0-0 India

25’: Chance goes begging for the Blue Tigers! Rahim Ali beats Ellethy with a firm left-footed strike from the edge of the box down the left flank, but there isn’t anyone on the other side of the keeper to slot the ball into the net.

Qatar 0-0 India

20’: Jay Gupta charges down the left flank in a spirited charge towards the Qatari third, only for keeper Ellethy to leave his post and put in a slide to collect the ball safely.

Qatar 0-0 India

18’: Al-Rawi has another shy at the Indian goalpost, this time being fed the ball down the right flank. The ball beats Gurpreet, but rolls past the left post, ending in a goal-kick.

Qatar 0-0 India

13’: The Qatari goalkeeper, who has largely been a spectator so far, and is forced to make a save after Brandon Fernandes’ chip finds Jeakson Singh in the box, with the latter attempting to set Anwar Ali up for the finish in vain.

Qatar 0-0 India

12’: Incredible work by the Indian defence to thwart Qatar’s most promising attempt at opening their account! Al-Rawi receives the ball from Gouda at the right flank of the box and goes full throttle at the Indian goalpost, only for Mehtab Singh to put his body on the line and block the ball from passing any further!

Qatar 0-0 India

10’: Gurpreet makes a couple of more saves as Qatar continue to make inroads into the Indian defence in the first 10 minutes of the contest. Al-Annabi have also received a free kick and a corner early in the match.

Qatar 0-0 India

2’: The hosts nearly score within a couple of minutes as Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who’s donning the captain’s armband today, is forced into making a desperate save after an attempt by Al-Hussain.

Qatar 0-0 India

1’: KICKOFF IN DOHA! Team India, donning their usual blue kits, are playing from right to left with Qatar in their maroon kits.

Here’s Qatar’s starting lineup for today’s fixture:

Ellethy (GK); Farhat, Gouda, Al Hadhrami; Mohialdin, Mohammadali, Al Ahrak, Irfan; Al Rawi, Al Ganehi

Here’s India’s lineup for today’s fixture at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha: