India vs Qatar Football Highlights, FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier: Hosts go down to Asian champions
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Sayan Mukherjee
India vs Qatar Football FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2026 Match Highlights: India fought bravely but went down 3-0 to Asian champions Qatar in a crucial World Cup second round qualifying clash.
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India vs Qatar Football FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2026 Match Highlights: India fought bravely but went down 3-0 to Asian champions Qatar in a crucial World Cup second round qualifying clash.

India hosted Qatar and lost 3-0 in a crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 second round qualifying clash in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. The home side began their qualifying campaign with a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Kuwait in an away game on November 16 while Qatar won 8-1 vs Afghanistan in their first game.

With the loss India are placed second eith three points from two games while Qatar took the top spot with six points.

India had forced a goal-less draw against Asian champions Qatar four years ago in a FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifier in Qatar.

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Goodbye

India fought hard but Qatar proved too formidable for them.

That’s it from us tonight. See you soon.

Full time Qatar 3 India 0

With their second consecutive win, Qatar go on top of Group A. They had earlier beaten Afghanistan 8-1.

India have three points after two games, courtesy of their 1-0 win iver Kuwait. India are now second. Kuwait take on Afghanistan in the group’s next game.

Four minutes added time

Four minutes given as added time. India press forward, win a couple of corners but nothing of note as the referee blows the final whistle.

Stimac and Queiroz share a broad smaile while shaking hands in the touchline.

3-0 for Qatar!

Sub Yusuf Abdurisag scores for the visitors! He got ahead of his marker Rahul Bheke and headed in in the near post past Amrinder. Too easy for Qatar. Bheke should have been firm there.

Two subs for India

Rahul KP and Ishan Pandita enter the field for captain Sunil Chhetri and Chhangte. With it India have used uo for their all five substitutions.

Chance for Qatar

Substitute Mohammed Muntari gets a good chance to get in on the scoresheet. But the lanky forward puts the ball over the bar fron the edge of the area.

Qatar substitutions

Qatar coach Carlos Queiroz rings in the changes. He subs off three players including second goal scorer Almouz Ali. It is an indication that Qatar thinks they have wrapped up the three points.

Chance for India to pounce in the last 15 minutes.

India probe on

Sahal releases Mahesh on the left channel and into the box. But Mahesh slips beforehe can shoot and the chance goes abegging. It is these half chances that India need to pounce on.

On the end end, India concede a corner, which is headed away.

India try to get a footprint

India asking questions, sending in crosses into the Qatar box. But Qatar deal with them, winning all the headers. But still encourging signs for India.

India win a corner

Mahesh swings the ball and ot gets blocked. India get a corner. But the shit is blocked and the moment passes.

Stimac brings in playmaker Sahal Abdul for Anirudh Thapa. Sahal gets a chance moments after carryung on but his left footer from insid ethe box goes wide.

Substitution

Stimac brings in Naorem Mahesh Singh in place of Udanta Sing on the wing. Like for like change. It signifies that India is looking for more pace on the flanks to break more quickly. Qatar bring on Yousuf Abdurisag for T Al-Abdullah.

Goal!

Qatar double their lead. They start the second half excatly as they begin the second half. Almouz Ali pounces after Amrinder spills Afif's volley for his 40th goal for his country.

Second half kicks off

India begin their chase again. They trail 1-0. How they approach the second half could be interesting.

'Apprehensive'

Qatar dominated the early proceedings and looked good to score more than one. India gradually grew in confidence and made a good scoring chance but Thapa missed.

A bit apprehensive, was how Arsene Wenger puts is. They need to mark more tightly. There is potential in the Indian team, he says.

Half time

India trail 1-0 after the first 45 minutes. They could have conceded more and scored once. Stimac will have a hard talk with the players on the areas to improve.

Chance!

Encouraging move from India. Chhetri's press releaes Thapa who is clear on goal but his feeble attempt goes wide. What an opportunity wasted by India!

On the other end Almouz ALli scores but the goal is chalked off as offside. Relief for India.

Shot by Apuia

First real attack from India. Udanta and Thapa combine on right. The ball falls to Apuia on the edge of the box but he skies it. Igor timac applauds the move but will not be happy with the effort of Apuia.

Save from Amrinder!

Mustafa Mashal was unmarked inside the box and heads the corner towards the goal but Amrinder is upto the task. He palms it away to prevent the ball from going in.

Important interception from Bheke

Bheke slides inside the box to keep Afif's shot from going in. Qatar win another corner but Khouki’s header goes well over the post.

Save from Amrinder!

Akram Afif goes past Nikhil Poojary and enters the box to shoot but Amrinder comes off his line to block the shot, concedes a corner, which gets cleared.

But Qatar all over India in the early stages.

Yellow card

India's topmost defender Sandesh Jhinghan is booked by Thai referee Sivakorn Pu-udom. He leaps into an air duel with Boualem Khouki, elbowing him.

India keeper Amrinder is shaky while clearing the ball and concedes a corner, which goes over. Relief for Amrinder, who is playing in a FIFA World Cup qualifier for the first time.

Qatar shot goes over

Akram Afif enters the box menacingly and chests the ball down but his shot gowa over Amrinder's goal. Relief for India.

But Qatar keep up the pressure with a corner which gets cleared.

Intense press

Qatar is keen to press aggresively. India find it hard to hold onto the ball. They try to pass their way around calmly.

Goal!

Qatar score! within the 4th minute! India faile to clear a corner and the ball moves around their box before Mustafa Mashal thumps it in.

Disastrous start for India.

Chance!

Early chance for Qatar, Akram Afif just had ro stroll the ball infrom six yards but slotted it wide! Unbelievable miss!

Early warning for India. They should have 1-0 down by the second minute.

Kick-off

The action begins!

National anthem time

Both teams have lined up beside each other for the national anthems. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, FIFA head of football development Arsene Wenger and AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey are present and greet the players.

Uphill task for India

Ígor Stimac’s boys will try to achieve another memorable result which, if pulled off, could significantly increase their chances of qualifying for the third round, an unknown territory so far.

Read the match preview here.

Battle ready

India start as underdogs

India are ranked 102nd as per FIFa, while Qatar are in the 61st position. Thus despite India's recent good form, its the fancied visiting side will start as firm favourites.

Line-ups

India coach Igor Stimac has made five changes to the squad that beat Kuwait 1-0 five days earlier.

Crunch game

India host Qatar in a crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 second round qualifying clash in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. The home side began their qualifying campaign with a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Kuwait in an away game on November 16.