Despite the setback, all hope isn’t lost for India. Currently second in Group A after four games, India sits eight points behind leaders Qatar. They are level on points with Afghanistan but hold the advantage on goal difference, and maintain a one-point lead over Kuwait.
Looking ahead, the Indian team faces a critical match against Kuwait in June. A victory is imperative, as a draw might not be sufficient, especially considering Kuwait's fixture against Afghanistan on the final matchday could potentially propel one of them ahead of India.
India's recent encounters with Kuwait have been evenly contested. While they secured a notable 1-0 victory in Kuwait City at the outset of the qualifying campaign, their clashes in the SAFF Championships last year ended in draws, highlighting the closely matched nature of the teams.
Should India secure another draw against Kuwait in the upcoming fixture, they will need a positive result against Qatar in their final match to secure qualification. However, if India succumbs to defeat against a relatively stronger Qatar team, the winner of the Kuwait-Afghanistan match will advance. In the event of a draw between Kuwait and Afghanistan, India will require at least a point against Qatar.
India’s recent loss to Afghanistan underscores the challenge posed by Qatar, who are likely to present a much more formidable opposition, even though they may have already secured qualification and potentially rotate their squad. Consequently, India's upcoming match against Kuwait assumes paramount importance, potentially determining their fate in the tournament.
These group games are part of the Asian section of the 2026 FIFA