FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
(Courtesy : ISL Media)
Yash Pratap Singh
The Indian football team has begun preparations for the impending 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup joint-qualifiers. India will play their fifth qualifier at home against Kuwait on June 6 followed by their final game against Qatar away from home on June 11.
Igor Stimac and his boys will look to script history in the game against Kuwait as they bid goodbye to their captain, leader, legend Sunil Chhetri who will play his final game for the nation. Team India will want to give their captain a fairytale farewell in the City of Joy.
After the conclusion of the ISL, India’s head coach Igor Stimac announced a list of 41 probables for a four-week preparatory camp in Bhubaneswar. However, out of the 41 probables only 27 players could make the cut as a lot of players were ruled out due to injuries.
The Blue Tigers have a realistic chance to get past the second round and advance to the third round of the qualifications for the first time. However, Igor Stimac has experienced numerous setbacks in the build-up to these high-stakes games, including injuries to several key players.
While eight players were already injured before coming into the camp, NorthEast United’s poster boy Parthib Gogoi and FC Goa‘s reportedly latest import Muhammad Hammad are the recent joinees.
Injuries to so many players comes in as a big upset for the national team who cannot afford anymore slip ups from here on, especially after a demoralizing run of form and an embarrassing defeat to Afghanistan in March.
On that note, let us take a look at the players who won’t be available for India’s upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers due to injuries.
Defenders: Naorem Rosham Singh, Akash Mishra, Muhammad Hammad
Midfielders: Mohammad Yasir, Vibin Mohanan, Rahul Kannoly Praveen, Isak Vanlalruratfela, Deepak Tangri
Forwards: Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia, Parthib Gogoi
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