Blue Tigers has been clubbed with Asian champion Qatar, Kuwait and the winner between Afghanistan and Mongolia after the AFC second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification in Group A. The draw was held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday.
India ranked 99 in FIFA ranking while Qatar 59 and Kuwait 137.
India placed in Pot 2 of the draw. The second round of qualifiers will have 36 teams, divided into nine groups of four teams each. The matches will be played in a home and away-format.
The top two teams from each group after the qualifiers will make it to the next round, while the rest will advance to the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualification.
Round 2 draw
Group A: Qatar, India, Kuwait, Afghanistan/Mongolia
Group B: Japan, Syria, DPR Korea, Myanmar/Macau
Group C: Korea Republic, China PR, Thailand, Singapore/Guam
Group D: Oman, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei/Timor-Leste
Group E: IR Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Hong Kong/China v Bhutan
Group F: Iraq, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia v Brunei Darussalam
Group G: Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Tajikistan, Cambodia/Pakistan
Group H: UAE, Bahrain, Yemen/Sri Lanka, Nepal/Laos
Group I: Australia, Palestine, Lebanon, Maldives v Bangladesh
Picture Courtesy: Social Media
