Afghanistan vs India 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier news has started a wave on the internet. Sunil Chhetri the captain of Indian football with his team will be playing against Afghanistan. Who are placed 158th, now that striker Jeakson Singh and defender Anwar Ali have returned after long injury absences? However, the team will be without their striker Sahal Abdul Samad due to his recent injury during training on Tuesday.
India has ranked second in Group A with three points and one win from two matches. On the other hand, Qatar leads the standings with six points from two wins, with Kuwait coming in second with one win. Additionally, Afghanistan is in last place after losing both of their games so far.
Previous whereabouts of the FIFA World Cup
India’s men’s football team will be facing Afghanistan in the second round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC qualifiers. Tuesday and Friday are booked for group A matches. The first FIFA World Cup qualifier will be played at the Damac Club Stadium in Abha, Saudi Arabia, between Afghanistan vs India, while the second will be held at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, India. Both the Afghanistan vs. India matches will be broadcast on Indian TV and digital services.
India opened their FIFA World Cup qualifying season with a 1-0 win over Kuwait. However, Sunil Chhetri & Co. lost a 3-0 defeat against Qatar on home grounds in their second game. Afghanistan, however, lost 8-1 to Qatar, although Kuwait scored four goals without replying. Additionally, Afghanistan is at the bottom of Group A.
Igor Stimac, the coach of the Indians, has selected a 25-member roster for the matches against Afghanistan. However, the team will be missing their defender, Sandesh Jhingan, who is recovering from an injury.
Important details to note about the Afghanistan vs India FIFA cup of 2026
When and where will the Afghanistan vs India match of 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier will take place?
The Afghanistan vs. India match will be played on March 21, 2026, in Abha, Saudi Arabia, for the FIFA World Cup Qualifier.
What time and day will the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match begin?
The FIFA World Cup Qualifier match of 2026 between India and Afghanistan will start at 12.30 a.m. IST on Friday, March 22 therefore the match will be live streamed on Fan Code App website of India.
Which TV networks will broadcast the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The DD Sports channel will be broadcasting the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match.
FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC qualifiers schedule All in Indian Standard Time (IST)
- March 22, Friday: Afghanistan vs. India, 12:30 AM
- March 26, Tuesday: India vs. Afghanistan, 7:00 p.m.
Finally, the Indian men’s football team will begin their attempt for the FIFA World Cup this week, playing in the second round of Asian qualifiers.
