FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: India beats Kuwait 1-0 in round two

Kuwait: The Indian senior men's football side started off its FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers second-round campaign with a 1-0 win over Kuwait in Kuwait City on Thursday.

Indian winger Manvir Singh (75)' scored the lone goal of the match and got his name on the scoresheet. Faizal Zaid Al-Harbi of Kuwait was sent off in the stoppage time during the second half, as per Olympics.com.

• .@manvir_singh07's lightning strike ⚡️ lights up India's 🇮🇳 #FIFAWorldCup Qualifiers campaign 💥🤩
  
  Match Report 👉🏼 https://t.co/JLBx2q3B2U#KUWIND⚔️ #BackTheBlue 💙 #BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/P3Whim3TJm

  — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) November 16, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  .@manvir_singh07's lightning strike ⚡️ lights up India's 🇮🇳 #FIFAWorldCup Qualifiers campaign 💥🤩
  
  Match Report 👉🏼 https://t.co/JLBx2q3B2U#KUWIND⚔️ #BackTheBlue 💙 #BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/P3Whim3TJm

  — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) November 16, 2023

  ">

  .@manvir_singh07's lightning strike ⚡️ lights up India's 🇮🇳 #FIFAWorldCup Qualifiers campaign 💥🤩
  
  Match Report 👉🏼 https://t.co/JLBx2q3B2U#KUWIND⚔️ #BackTheBlue 💙 #BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/P3Whim3TJm

  — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) November 16, 2023

The 102nd-ranked side India was restricted to its own half early on as Kuwait dominated the ball possession, but Indian midfielders improved as the game went on, making some chances for the strikers.

• 3⃣ Points ✅
  
  On to the next game, the big one against Qatar 🙌
  
  KUW 🇰🇼 0️⃣-1⃣ IND 🇮🇳#KUWIND⚔️ #FIFAWorldCup 🏆 #BackTheBlue 💙 #BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/Lsevhi84TA

  — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) November 16, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  3⃣ Points ✅
  
  On to the next game, the big one against Qatar 🙌
  
  KUW 🇰🇼 0️⃣-1⃣ IND 🇮🇳#KUWIND⚔️ #FIFAWorldCup 🏆 #BackTheBlue 💙 #BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/Lsevhi84TA

  — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) November 16, 2023

  ">

  3⃣ Points ✅
  
  On to the next game, the big one against Qatar 🙌
  
  KUW 🇰🇼 0️⃣-1⃣ IND 🇮🇳#KUWIND⚔️ #FIFAWorldCup 🏆 #BackTheBlue 💙 #BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/Lsevhi84TA

  — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) November 16, 2023

Sahal Abdul Samad had the first chance of scoring for India but before he could shoot, he was closed down inside the box. Seconds later, a cross by Nikhil Poojary went to Sunil Chhetri, but the shot flew over the crossbar.

Mahesh Naorem made another shooting opportunity in the 27th minute with a freekick but Akash Mishra failed to take the ball to the target. The hosts also failed to convert a long-range effort during the final moments of the first half.

The Indian defence was pretty solid in the first half, well led by Sandesh Jhingan and they did not allow Kuwait strikers to make inroads into the goal. Kuwait played the second half with greater endeavour but despite consistency in effort, they lacked in precision.

Suresh Singh's promising attempt at goal flew off the target in the 71st minute but four minutes later, Manvir ended the deadlock, receiving a cross by Lallianzuala Chhangte and smashing a half-volley into the nets. Kuwait upped the attack in the final moments of the match but the goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sidhu and the defenders kept the goal guarded well.

This is India's second win over Kuwait, after beating them by 5-4 via penalties following a 1-1 draw at the SAFF Championship final in July. India's next clash is against World number 61 Qatar on November 21 in their second group A match. Group A also features Afghanistan. These four teams will play each other in a home-away round-robin format.

The top two finishers in the group will make it to the FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC qualifiers third round while also earning a direct spot into the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.