Blue Tigers will play their remaining two Group A matches against Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6 and Qatar in Doha on June 11
Indian Football team head coach Igor Stimac announced the final 15 members for the preparatory camp in Bhubaneshwar as they gear up for the final two games of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Stimac had earlier announced a 26-member probable list sans the players of Mumbai City FC and Mohun Bagan for the camp.
India’s training camp will begin on May 10 in Bhubaneswar. The Blue Tigers will play their remaining two Group A matches against Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6 and Qatar in Doha on June 11. India are currently second in the group, with four points after four matches. The top two teams in the group will proceed to Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and compete in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.
The national camp will feature a total of 41 players. The 26 players on the initial list will begin training in the Odisha capital on May 10. The 15 players from the second list, who represented Mumbai City FC and Mohun Bagan SG in the ISL final, will report to camp on May 15.
Stimac has also announced I-League players to the national team’s probable squad. The 41 members include Muhammad Hammad (Real Kashmir), Edmund Lalrindika (Inter Kashi), David Lalhlansanga (Mohammedan), and Lalrinzuala (Aizawl). However, ace defender Sandesh Jhingan is still out due to an ACL injury.
However, Mumbai City defender Akash Mishra, sidelined from the ISL final with an alleged long-term ACL injury, has been named in the probable squad. The extent of Mishra’s injury is yet unknown.
The final list of 41 players for the Bhubaneswar camp:
- Goalkeepers: Phurba Tempa Lachenpa, Vishal Kaith, Amrinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
- Defenders: Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Mehtab Singh, Rahul Bheke, Subhasish Bose, Amey Ganesh Ranawade, Jay Gupta, Lalchungnunga, Muhammad Hammad, Narender, Nikhil Poojary, Roshan Singh Naorem.
- Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Deepak Tangri, Lalengmawia Ralte, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Liston Colaco, Sahal Abdul Samad, Brandon Fernandes, Edmund Lalrindika, Imran Khan, Isak Vanlalruatfela, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Mohammad Yasir, Nandhakumar Sekar, Rahul Kannoly Praveen, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Vibin Mohanan.
- Forwards: Manvir Singh, Vikram Partap Singh, David Lalhlansanga, Jithin Madathil Subran, Lalrinzuala, Parthib Sundar Gogoi, Rahim Ali, Sunil Chhetri.
Can India advance to the next round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers?
Following a dismal performance against Afghanistan in their previous two games, the Indian Football Team finds itself in an untenable situation with just two teams qualifying for the third round after six matches. They began their campaign with a 1-0 victory against Kuwait, but a 3-0 setback to Qatar in Bhubaneshwar failed to help their case, and the draw and loss to Afghanistan have only made India’s job more difficult.
Although India are now second in the group with four points from as many games, the Sunil Chhetri-led team is just ahead of Afghanistan on goal difference. India must win both of its remaining games and cannot afford to lose another point to move to the next round.
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