FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

Indian Football Team

Football Accent :

Senior Indian Men’s National Football Team to travel in a chartered plane to Abha , Saudi Arabia for the Afghanistan match , AIFF decides it after a meeting with head coach Igor Stimac in Kolkata on Friday, 8th March , where they discussed about the upcoming international FIFA World Cup qualifier matches.

Blue Tigers to face Afghanistan in the away match on 21 March in Abha, Saudi Arabia followed by the home matches against Saudi Arabia on 26th March in Guwahati and Kuwait on June 6th which is decide to be held in Kolkata. The Kuwait game will turn out to be a crucial for India to make the dream true to qualify for the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. If it happens, it will be a historic moment as India never qualified for the third round in the past.

AIFF precident and head coach also discussed about the potential challenges involved in this path. Igor Stimac informed that due to the logistical issues , the team’s travel to Abha could prove to be troublesome . They need to change three flights which would cost them two important days of training time in a high altitude place like Abha .

To achieve this ambitious target successfully, AIFF precident Kalyan Chaubey assured head coach Igor Stimac to provide all possible assistance to help the team to qualify for the next level . The qualification to third round will ensure a spot in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 .

“India’s away match against Afghanistan on March 21, is in Abha, Saudi Arabia. I discussed with the coach the genuine logistical problems the team could be facing while travelling there. Because we have always taken a no-compromise stand on issues related to the National Team, we have decided to hire a chartered flight to take our players to Abha. We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the success of the National Team.” said AIFF precident Kalyan Chaubey.

“I need to honour the meeting with our President, Mr. Chaubey, with appreciation and satisfaction. We had a very effective meeting today, which will help our National team to obtain good results in the qualifiers ahead of us and we are going to do everything on the pitch to show our appreciation for the efforts taken by the President and his staff for the National Team.” Igor Stimac said after the the meeting in Kolkata.