Indian team to begin the campaign on November 16 against Kuwait

NEW-DELHI: In a significant development for Indian football enthusiasts, Bhubaneswar and Guwahati have been chosen as the venues for India's first two home matches in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 joint qualification round two. This announcement was made by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Saturday, marking a pivotal moment in India's football journey.

India has been placed in Group A of the Asian qualifiers, awaiting the winner from the preliminary joint qualification round one, which includes Qatar, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Mongolia.

The Indian national football team is set to kick off their campaign with an away match against Kuwait scheduled for November 16. Following this, on November 21, India will face the formidable Qatar team, the reigning champions of the AFC Asian Cup, at the Kaling Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

Looking ahead to the next year, the Indian squad will engage in two consecutive matches against the winner of the preliminary round between Afghanistan and Mongolia. The first leg is scheduled to be played abroad on March 21, while the second leg will take place on March 26 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati. The AIFF is expected to announce further details, including the venue for India's home match against Kuwait on June 6 next year.