The excitement is palpable as the Indian senior men’s football team gears up to face Afghanistan in a crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 match on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The highly anticipated clash will take place at the iconic Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, with kickoff scheduled for 19:00 IST.
The Blue Tigers, as the Indian team is affectionately known, are determined to secure a victory and bag all three points in their quest to advance to Round 3 of the World Cup qualifiers for the first time in history. With a capacity crowd expected to fill the stands, including fans traveling from neighboring northeastern states, the atmosphere promises to be electric as India strives to make significant progress in the qualifying campaign.
This match marks a return to Guwahati for the Indian team after their last World Cup Qualifier in 2019 against Oman. The city has been buzzing with anticipation, adorned with posters and advertisements promoting the event. Fans have shown immense support by turning up in large numbers for India’s training sessions over the weekend.
In their recent encounter just four days ago, India played out a goalless draw against Afghanistan on Saudi Arabian soil. Although they were unable to secure a win, the draw propelled them to second place in Group A, trailing behind double Asian champions Qatar. With nine points from three matches, India is in a promising position to advance, but they must maintain momentum with a strong performance against Afghanistan.
Head coach Igor Stimac expressed his excitement about the vibrant atmosphere in Guwahati and emphasized the team’s determination to rectify their previous result against Afghanistan. Stimac highlighted the importance of securing a victory, as every point is crucial in the race for qualification.
A significant subplot of the match will be Sunil Chhetri’s anticipated 150th appearance for the national team, a remarkable achievement in Indian football history. However, Chhetri remained focused on the team’s objectives for the match, stressing the importance of unity and collective effort.
The Blue Tigers will look to break their goal-scoring drought, having gone five matches without finding the back of the net. With a strong record on home soil, having scored 16 goals in their last 12 matches, India aims to thrill the Guwahati crowd with an attacking display against Afghanistan.
Football enthusiasts can catch all the action live on Sports18 1, Sports18 1 HD, and Sports18 3, with streaming available on JioCinema. The stage is set for an exhilarating encounter as India vies for a historic qualification berth in the upcoming rounds of the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers.