On Tuesday evening, Indian football fans witnessed a heartbreaking defeat as their team lost 2-1 to Qatar in the FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifier.
This match was crucial for the Indian team since it would decide whether they would progress to round 3 of the World Cup qualifiers for the very first time. But the match ended in disappointment, as India finished third in Group A. They also missed out on an automatic qualification for 2027 Asian Cup.
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In the do-or-die match against Qatar, India was leading 1-0 until the 73rd minute. A controversial moment occurred when Qatar’s Yousef Aymen’s header was saved by Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh. The ball crossed the line, but the referee awarded the goal to Qatar which sealed their comeback.
The controversy arose because replays clearly showed that the ball had crossed the line before being played back into the field. India’s players, including the goalkeeper, believed that a goal kick would be awarded, but the referee’s decision to award the goal to Qatar stood.
We’ll leave it here!#INDQAT #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/5KhtyOfrvS
Before this controversial goal, India was in a promising position in the Group A standings, heading to progress to the third round of qualifiers. But this late winning goal for Qatar and another goal for Kuwait in their match against Afghanistan changed everything. India finished third in the group, ending their hopes for the 2026 World Cup.
The disappointment of Indian football fans is understandable given the circumstances of this match. While the team fought hard, the controversial goal ultimately sealed their fate.
Now, they must regroup and look ahead to the 2030 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for another opportunity on the international stage.
Divy Dubey is a content producer for The Sporting News' India edition.
