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India vs Afghanistan preview: Just days after playing out a 0-0 draw in Saudi Arabia, India and Afghanistan meet once again at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, this time in Guwahati on Tuesday. It was a rather disappointing draw for the Blue Tigers last week, especially after opportunities went begging.
Striker Manvir Singh came closing to scoring twice, and even with India in control of the game, Afghanistan too missed out on making use of their opportunities. India, who are in second place in the second-round qualification group with four points, cannot afford to drop any more points. This match will also be Sunil Chhetri’s 150th international appearance.
So far in the second-round qualification, India have won one, lost one and drawn one. They began with a 1-0 win over Kuwait on 16 November and followed it up with a 0-3 defeat to Qatar just a few days later. The draw against Afghanistan only makes India’s job tougher and a negative goal difference of -2 also does not help. Manvir Singh scored India’s only goal pf the campaign so far.
The top two teams from each group advance to the third-round qualification of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, and India have never reached the third round.
Head coach Igor Stimac said ahead of the game on Monday that he intends to leave if India don’t make it to the third round. “If I don’t take India to the third round I will leave, with my pride, with my honour on everything that was done here in the five years of work. I will leave my position to someone else,” said Stimac. In 2023, Stimac had signed a contract extension that would keep him as India head coach till June 2026.
Afghanistan head coach Ashley Westwood had a simple message to his players ahead of the return leg. “Just get the ball in the right areas and play well — that’s all we are concerned about,” said Westwood.
India vs Afghanistan: World Cup Qualifiers probable XI
India: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Rahul Bheke, Anwar Ali, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Akash Mishra, Manvir Singh, Sunil Chhetri, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Lalengmawia Ralte, Vikram Partap Singh, Nikhil Poojary
Afghanistan: Ovays Azizi, Mahboob Hanifi, Haroon Amiri, Habibulla Askar, Mosawer Ahadi, Rahmat Akbari, Jabar Sharza, Taufee Skandari, Zelfagar Nazary, Omid Popalzay, Sharif Mukhammad
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