AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers: India's Momentum Against Qatar

Sports Football

Posted by AI on 2025-09-05 18:39:42 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-18 12:02:15

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India host Qatar on Tuesday in a crunch Group H encounter that decides the fate of both sides' aspirations to qualify for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026.

Can India emulate their senior women's team's landmark achievement of last year and become the first Indian squad to qualify for a FIFA tournament, or will Qatar halt their progress and keep their own qualification hopes alive?

Indian national football team coach Igor Stimac highlighted the importance of winning the game: "The Qatar game is a deciding game for us to qualify for the final tournament. We have worked hard over the past year to reach this stage, and I expect that we will give our best in this match."

India kick-started their campaign with a crucial 2-0 victory over Bahrain, marking the first step in what they hope will be a historical journey. Bahrain and Qatar played out a goalless draw in the same group's other match on Matchday 1.

Stimac's men have a chance to secure a place at the finals in Uzbekistan, but they will be closely challenged by a Qatari team eager to respond after a disappointing home result in the edition's opening round.

The match marks the first senior football exchange between the two countries since Qatar 2022 final draw, where India landed in the same group as the host nation.

Marked by tensions and hostility, the buildup to the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers has been anything but serene, with conflicts ranging from FIFA World Cup qualifiers' delay to the cancellation of the SAFF Championship.

India presently leads Group H with three points, followed by Qatar in second with two points and Bahrain in third with one. The top two teams from each of the four groups qualify for the finals.

The countdown begins for Indian football as they get ready to host Qatar at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Tuesday, 21 June. Who will emerge victorious in this crucial clash that has so much at stake?

Stay tuned to find out!

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