India’s men’s national football team resumed their 2026 World Cup Qualifying campaign with a goalless draw against Afghanistan, on March 21st. The game, played at the Damac Stadium in Abha, Saudi Arabia – one of Afghanistan’s many foster homes during these qualifiers – hosted a lackluster affair that could have gone either way. Ultimately, both teams failed to capitalise on their opportunities and settled for a point each.
The Blue Tigers entered the fixture on the back of an eye-opening Asian Cup campaign, which stunted the rising optimism surrounding the recent growth of Indian football. In their two previous games in the second round of the World Cup qualifiers, Igor Stimac’s men had managed a historic away win against Kuwait, before succumbing 3 – 0 to Qatar at home. Being third in Group A, the Blue Tigers needed positive results in their two encounters with Afghanistan this international break to have a chance at being one of the group’s two teams to progress into the next qualifying round.
India were without the services of Sahal Abdul Samad, who sustained a hamstring injury during training, Brandon Fernandes, unwell, and Sandesh Jhingan, recovering from an ACL injury. Meanwhile, Jeakson Singh and Anwar Ali started for the Blue Tigers, having returned from their respective injuries.
Bottom-placed Afghanistan, on the other hand, were hoping to recover from thrashings to Qatar and Kuwait in their previous two fixtures. The Khorasan Lions were also missing eight players who started in their victory over Mongolia in the previous round, owing to an ongoing boycott of the national team over alleged corruption within the board. While head coach Ashley Westwood is familiar with the Indian squad, through stints at Bengaluru FC, ATK, and Roundglass Punjab, his team were firm underdogs, given their depleted status.
The game kicked off amidst heavy downpour and vocal Indian support. Both teams had some half-chances in the first fifteen minutes, but neither side could establish control over proceedings. Rahmat Akbari had a swiveling attempt from the edge of the box in the 10th minute for the Afghans, but the effort went sailing over the crossbar.
As the half progressed, India began threatening from crosses. A big chance fell to Manvir Singh in the 16th minute, when Lallianzuala Chhangte served in a brilliant ball from the left flank, but India’s no. 9 deflected the finish wide. The offside flag spared his blushes. Ten minutes later, another opportunity was spurned when Rahul Bheke headed a free-kick delivery over the cross bar.
Afghanistan responded to India’s wing play with counter attacks of their own. The hosts took the game’s first shot on target in the 30th minute, but Mosawer Ahadi’s effort only forced a regulation save from Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The Indian custodian was tested again at the stroke of halftime, with a sizzling distant free kick from Jabar Sharza, but this time he turned it away with a punch.
India fail to break the deadlock in the second half
At the halfway point, the Khorasan Lions boasted higher possession, but neither goalkeeper had been forced into any significant action.
The second half, though characterized by increased urgency, mirrored the first. India continued to create chances through crosses but were unable to land any of their headers on target. Vikram Partap, who was one of India’s livelier attackers, missed one such opportunity wide in the 58th minute. Subhasish Bose failed to put away a free header, from a corner, in the 78th minute.
Meanwhile, the Afghans continued to excel on the counter, but still lacked the end-product. Just after the hour mark, the Khorasan Lions had their best opportunity of the game: Akbari, who was through on goal with just the onrushing Sandhu to beat, squared the ball to Sharza, but a crucial intervention from Bheke kept the scores level.
The Blue Tigers, aided by fresh legs from the bench, had a late flourish in the dying minutes of the game but were unable to change the scoreline. Naorem Mahesh went down in the box during injury time, arms flailing, but the referee did not flinch. The full-time whistle was blown soon after.
This draw, to the 158th ranked, crisis-hit Afghanistan side, may prove to be a major blow to India’s hopes of progressing to the third round of World Cup Qualifying. While a Qatar’s 3 – 0 victory over Kuwait in the group’s other game sees the Blue Tigers move up to second in Group A, India’s current form will not advantage them in the return fixtures against Afghanistan and Kuwait (two games Stimac’s men must win to keep qualifying fortunes in their own hands).
Speaking after the match, Stimac expressed his disappointment at the team’s lack of scoring ability, while he acknowledged the defense for keeping it tight at the back.
“The match was interesting. I am disappointed with the result in the end because we created three or four really good chances. We could not score which is the problem that has been following us for many years, it is a well-known problem in our football.
“We tried all of the players we had available in the frontline but it did not work today. There are a few things we need to improve on obviously as we complicate simple things today in the offensive plan. I am not happy about that. The defenders did well and did not give away anything. But we need to be better in passing, creating chances and attacking the box when the crosses are coming from the flanks,” concluded India’s head coach.
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