Home match against Kuwait crucial for India: Coach Stimac

Igor Stimac

India's home match against Kuwait on June 6 could be among head coach Igor Stimac's most important matches at the helm of affairs as the country seeks to make it to the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time in its history.

Stimac is believed to have told the technical committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in a virtual meeting on Saturday that even if India beats Afghanistan twice (home and away) in March, it will still be difficult to qualify for the third round if the team does not do well against Kuwait.

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

"He said the Kuwait match at home in June will be the most important upcoming match if India is to qualify for the third round. He gave his reasoning and explained it to the members," said a source. The online meeting was held to review the performance of the Indian team at the AFC Asian Cup and chart the way forward.

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