Against kuwait

FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Indian men's senior football team were off to the perfect start possible in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers with a victory in Kuwait. Back at home, times will get more testing as India welcomes Asian champions Qatar on Tuesday here at the Kalinga Stadium.

On paper, Carlos Queiroz's Qatar are ranked 61 in the world. India are 102. However, history tells us that the contests between the Maroons and the Blue Tigers have been tight and cagey affairs.

The goalless draw in the World Cup Qualifiers in Doha back in 2019 was one of Indian football's most famous results in recent times. It was only a few months before that Qatar had put three past Japan to lift the Asian Cup trophy.