Can Sunil Chhetri-led Team India qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026? India loses 2nd qualification match vs Qatar; When India qualified for FIFA but withdrew due to lack of funds

Produced by: Bhoomika Aggarwal Designed by: Manoj Kumar

India vs Qatar: FIFA qualification

[{"selector":"#anim-b3ec0353-e965-47bf-a941-400113451244 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-11.823965834096919%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Asian champion Qatar ended India’s 15-game unbeaten streak with a 3-0 win in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar . This defeat has pushed India to the third spot on FIFA Qualifier Points Table.

FIFA World Cup 2026

[{"selector":"#anim-10fdca61-6667-4514-b0e0-732093818746","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3698c3cc-dbe3-4603-afb0-00305ecf362d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-92.35807%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] FIFA World Cup 2026 will see the most number of teams in the history of the tournament, with Asia allocated double the number of slots than the previous edition. This also raises the chance for Team India to qualify for the much-coveted football world cup.

India has greater chance to qualify for FIFA

[{"selector":"#anim-3b7b7840-eee2-4d35-9798-42a1fb2d479a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(14.788791376941225%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Asia has been allocated eight direct slots in the World Cup and another possible slot, which will be decided through an inter-confederation playoff.

World Cup Qualifiers - Group A Points Table

[{"selector":"#anim-48cc0c81-497b-4a8e-a676-1411ce3013ef [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-8.296404760096971%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] India is at the third spot while Qatar is leading the chart, followed by Kuwait.

FIFA Qualifier Points Table

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Can India qualify for FIFA 2026?

[{"selector":"#anim-68922b1e-8a6f-440c-90d3-39a0ebef0ce6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f75f5059-d2a2-4be3-bfe0-246a29a85d54","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-91.5547%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] As India lost the match vs Qatar, it has now been pushed to the third spot. It leaves Sunil Chhetri-led team with two options: – India will have to be a group winner in the fourth round to secure a spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026. – If India fails to make the cut in the fourth round, it will have to win its match in the fifth round to qualify for the inter-confederation play-off. A win in the play-off will secure a spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

When India qualified for FIFA but withdrew due to lack of funds

[{"selector":"#anim-e87a0183-af2c-4a47-9e06-b9f8f6eb1ffb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-20.661157024793386%, -20.661155830782945%) scale(1.4132231404958677)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The Indian men's football team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. However, India did qualify by default for the 1950 World Cup after other nations in their qualification group withdrew. India withdrew before the tournament began. As per reports, the Indian team did not have enough funds to travel to FIFA World Cup venue in Brazil and hence had to quit.

India squad for FIFA Qualifiers

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World Cup slots for each continent

[{"selector":"#anim-ac3412a0-e739-4f48-b793-9b2821e94afa [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-22.284307664520668%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Following are the slots allocated to each continent for the FIFA World Cup 2026: Europe - UEFA - 16 Africa - CAF - 9 and one-third Asia - AFC - 8 and one-third Oceania - OFC - 1 and one-third North and Central America - CONCACAF - 6 (3 hosts) and two-third South America - CONMEBOL - 6 and one-third

FIFA Qualifier Match schedule

[{"selector":"#anim-a9aac0ba-24b6-4831-a145-4cda2405f69a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-26.05064640640039%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] India's upcoming FIFA Qualifying matches in Group Stages are - Australia vs India - Jan 13 India vs Uzbekistan - Jan 18 Syria vs India - Jan 23

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