After an impressive start to the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, India will be hoping to maintain positivity as they welcome Asian champions Qatar at home.
India vs Qatar Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 21 November 2023
Time: 19:00 (IST)
Venue: Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar
India vs Qatar Viewing Details
The match between India and Qatar will be telecasted in India on Sports18 with live streaming available on JioCinema and JioTV.
India vs Qatar Match Preview
The 1-0 win against Kuwait in Kuwait in the 2026 World Cup AFC Qualifiers opener will go down as one of the most remarkable results secured by the Indian men’s football team in recent history. Manvir Singh, a surprise starter, got the only goal for India in the 75th minute from a pass by impact-sub Lallianzuala Chhangte. In front of a rousing away support for the Blue Tigers, the visitors took the chance when it mattered in a game that offered few opportunities. Kuwait also finished the game with 10 players as Faisal Jahid received a second yellow in the stoppage time. India also put an end to their long-standing miserable run in away matches. Although they got better of the Middle Eastern nation to win the SAFF Championship earlier this year, this victory is more significant as it could pave their way for qualification to Round 3 of the qualifiers for the very first time. India will face Qatar next at home and while the games against them are the most difficult ones, wins in the matches against Afghanistan and Kuwait in the return fixture at home will help India qualify. The top two teams of each group will advance to the next round with Igor Stimac’s side eyeing the runners-up spot as Qatar likely to come up first.
Facing the Asian Champions is not going to be easy as the Blue Tigers are yet to win or score against the Maroons but have lost only 1-0 and restricted them to a 0-0 in the last World Cup qualifiers. This is the first meeting between the sides in India. Qatar showed their ruthlessness in their opening game of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers beating a second-stringed Afghanistan team 8-1 at home with Almoez Ali scoring a stunning five goals himself, all in the first half. Starting their journey in such a fashion shows the intent of the Asian Cup hosts and this will be a huge test for India to replicate their dogged defensive display in the last two meetings. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has to provide his ‘A’ game again proving to be the player of the match in those encounters. Despite their quality, Qatar will be aware of the fact that this away game has the potential to be a banana skin for them as they have struggled with form recently. Winning against the Asian Champions will be a dream scenario for the Blue Tigers something the 61st ranked nation cannot afford to do at this stage.
Recent Form
IND: WLLLW
QAT: WLWDL
India vs Qatar head-to-head
Played - 3
IND won - 0
Drawn - 1
QAT won - 2
India vs Qatar Predicted Lineups
IND: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Nikhil Poojary, Sandesh Jhingan, Rahul Bheke, Akash Mishra; Anirudh Thapa, Apuia; Manvir Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, Lallianzuala Chhangte; Sunil Chhetri
QAT: Meshaal Barsham; Pedro Miguel, Yousef Aymen, Boualem Khouki, Homam Elamin; Al Haidos, Mostafa Meshaal, Ahmed Al-Rawi; Almoez Ali, Al Abdullah, Akram Afif
India vs Qatar Dream11 Prediction
GK: Gurpreet (8)
DEF: Bheke (8), Jhingan (8.5), Elamin (9)
MID: Chhangte (9), Al Haidos (9), Sahal (8), Meshaal (7.5)
FW: Ali (9), Chhetri (9), Akram Afif (8.5)
Captain: Sunil Chhetri or Almoez Ali
Vice-captain: Al Haidos
