India’s potential entry into the third round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers was thwarted by a controversy on the field. On Tuesday, during India’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match against Qatar at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, a contentious goal by Qatar’s Yousef Aymen caught Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the Indian team captain, and the rest of the players off guard.
Here’s what happened: After Sandhu saved a header, the ball had clearly gone out of play. However, the referees did not spot it. While the Indian players thought the ball was out of play and stopped playing, the ball was brought back in by Al Hassan and put inside the Indian net by Aymen. Since there was no Video Assistant Referee (VAR), it could not be reviewed.
What should have been a routine corner kick turned into a game-changing moment, leaving Indian players bewildered and frustrated. Despite their protests, the referees remained unable to provide satisfactory explanations, leaving lingering questions.
Numerous videos, photos, and screenshots of the moment are circulating on social media.
The king of robbers Qatar robbed India of a World Cup qualifying spotpic.twitter.com/39TiYG66zh
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) June 11, 2024
I don’t think I have ever seen a worst decision in a football match! That ball was out by a mile – and the Qatar players clearly knew it. Disgraceful.
India was robbed. https://t.co/u0wrJA3pdq
— Vikram Chandra (@vikramchandra) June 11, 2024
I have Pinned 📌 this, until FIFA takes action 🤐 @FIFAWorldCup
Qatar (34th FIFA Ranked) was on a verge of Defeat against India (121st FIFA Ranked), But they (🇶🇦) choose Robbery over Defeat #QATIND pic.twitter.com/dHIi9VEswe
— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) June 12, 2024
India vs Qatar – World Cup Qualifier
The ball clearly goes out of play, yet the goal was awarded to Qatar due to which India doesn’t qualify for the world cup. Isn’t this blatant #cheating?pic.twitter.com/JtTZCv0Hym
— Vertigo_Warrior (@VertigoWarrior) June 12, 2024
The controversial goal canceled out Lallianzuala Chhangte’s goal in the first half. Qatar scored again twelve minutes later, putting them ahead and knocking India out of the World Cup qualifiers in the second round.
