India Gears Up for Crucial World Cup Qualifier Against Kuwait

India's preparations for their crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Joint Qualification match against Kuwait on June 6 are in full swing, with head coach Igor Stimac expressing optimism about the team's progress.

In a video posted on social media, Stimac highlighted the positive atmosphere within the training camp, where senior players are mentoring younger teammates. "Players are responding well," he said. "The senior players are making first-time campers feel comfortable and sharing their experience."

India currently occupy second place in Group A with four points, behind Qatar. Their only victory in the campaign came against Kuwait (1-0) in the first round of fixtures. To advance to the next round of qualifiers, India must defeat Kuwait and hope for a favorable result in their final match against Qatar, who have won all four of their qualifiers so far.

The match against Kuwait holds immense significance for Indian football, as it will be the last time that legendary striker Sunil Chhetri, India's all-time leading scorer, will represent the country. This will undoubtedly provide additional motivation for the squad.

Stimac has selected two squads of probables for the training camp, comprising 41 players. After the camp concludes, he will finalize the squad that will travel to Kuwait and Qatar for the crucial matches.

India's preparations have been boosted by the return of key players such as Sandesh Jhingan, who missed the previous qualifiers due to injury. The team is determined to put in a strong performance and secure a positive result against Kuwait, which would keep their hopes of qualifying for the next round alive.

Tags: #IndianFootball, #FIFAWorldCup, #IgorStimac, #SunilChhetri, #Kuwait