Football

India's Farewell to Sunil Chhetri in FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifier Against KuwaitIndia's legendary captain Sunil Chhetri will bid farewell to international football in a historic FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifier match against Kuwait on Thursday, June 6. The match, to be held at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, marks the end of an illustrious career for the 39-year-old striker.Chhetri, India's all-time leading scorer with 84 goals, has been instrumental in the team's rise in the FIFA rankings. Under his leadership, India has achieved its highest-ever ranking of 96th and has qualified for the AFC Asian Cup four times.The FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers are a crucial step in India's quest to reach the global football showpiece for the first time. The top two teams from each of the nine groups of four teams will advance to the third stage, where Asia's eight World Cup berths will be decided.India currently sits second in Group A, behind Oman, with six points from four matches. A win against Kuwait would boost their chances of finishing in the top two and advancing to the next round.Kuwait, ranked 146th in the FIFA rankings, will be a tough opponent for India. The Kuwaitis have won two of their four matches in the qualifiers and will be looking to upset India in Chhetri's farewell match.The match is expected to be an emotional affair for Chhetri and Indian football fans alike. Chhetri has been a symbol of hope and inspiration for the nation, and his retirement will mark the end of an era.

Sunil Chhetri, the legendary captain of the Indian men's football team, is preparing for his final outing with the national side. As he faces the media ahead of India's crucial match against Kuwait, emotions run high.Chhetri, who has scored a record 94 goals in 150 appearances for India, has been a talismanic figure for the team. His retirement announcement 20 days ago sent shockwaves through the footballing community."I have been fighting a small battle inside me all along," Chhetri confessed. "Please do not make it worse by asking again and again. We were done with the subject of retirement when I announced it."The focus now is on the match against Kuwait, which holds immense significance for India's World Cup qualification hopes. "The only thing that I want to focus on is the match against Kuwait," Chhetri emphasized. "We really need to win this game. Once we win it gives us a great chance to go to the third round (of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers), which we have never achieved before."Chhetri believes that a victory against Kuwait will open doors to greater opportunities. "If we win against Kuwait, we almost qualify to the third round," he said. "And once we qualify, we will be up against some top teams (of the continent). I keep telling the boys about this dream every day. Hopefully, everything will happen according to plan. If we qualify, I will be travelling to watch the matches as a fan."The Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata is expected to be packed with passionate fans cheering on the Indian team. Chhetri expressed his gratitude for their unwavering support. "We need to go out there with all our might, because the match is not going to be easy," he said. "It is going to be a big battle, but the good thing is that we are all ready. I am sure Kolkata will give us tremendous support as we fight it out on the ground."As Chhetri prepares to bid farewell to international football, he leaves behind a legacy of inspiration and achievement. His passion, determination, and leadership have been instrumental in shaping the future of Indian football.

Emotions will run high as the talismanic Sunil Chhetri leads India out one last time in a crucial FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6. The 39-year-old Chhetri, who has dominated the national football landscape for 19 years, will hang his boots at the end of this match.Chhetri's goal is to propel his team into the next round of the World Cup qualifiers as a parting gift. The top two teams from each of the nine groups of four teams will advance to the third stage, which will determine FIFA's increased allocation of eight World Cup berths for Asia.While it may be a long shot for India to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in North America, a win over Kuwait would take the team into uncharted territory, where they would face the best of Asia in at least 10 matches. This would also translate into some quality friendly games.India currently occupies the second spot in Group A behind Qatar, with four points from four games. They are ahead of Afghanistan on goal difference and Kuwait, who have three points. A victory would put India firmly ahead of Afghanistan, who face Qatar in a tough fixture later on June 6.Chhetri has been a bonafide legend of Indian football, with 94 goals from 150 appearances and a dozen trophies in his cabinet. His last dance will be at the Salt Lake Stadium, where his professional football career took shape with Mohun Bagan in the early 2000s.India will be coming into this match with solid preparation. They have made some interesting additions in I-League forwards Edmund Lalrindika (Inter Kashi) and David Lalhlansanga (Mohammedan Sporting), who will be aiming to become the first players in five years to make national debuts from the second tier league.However, the defense will have to cope with the absence of Sandesh Jhingan, who has been sidelined due to an injury from the Asian Cup in January. It remains to be seen if the likes of Rahul Bheke, Anwar Ali, and Subhasish Bose will be able to compensate for his absence, especially the aerial strength he has provided over the years.Focus will also be on Lallianzuala Chhangte, who had a strong 2023-24 ISL season, scoring 10 goals and providing six assists for Mumbai City FC. He will look to carry this form against Kuwait, who will have the firepower of Hassan Al-Enezi in the defense.Kuwait will be coming to the game after routing Afghanistan 4-0, with their key forward duo of Shabaib Al Khaldi and Mohammed Daham scoring three goals between them. The duo will once again be a big threat to the Indians.

Indian football team coach Igor Stimac has emphasized the significance of the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Kuwait, describing it as a game that could "change the careers" of his players. India will face Kuwait at the Salt Lake Stadium in their penultimate second-round game, followed by an away match against Qatar on June 11.Despite their disappointing loss to Afghanistan in the home leg in March, India still has a chance to qualify for the third round of qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Stimac believes that a victory against Kuwait could be a turning point for his team."It's a huge game. The careers of the boys can change with this game. I want them to enjoy and do their best in the game," Stimac said.India, currently ranked 121st in FIFA, will be looking to improve their performance against Kuwait, especially with talisman Sunil Chhetri playing his farewell match for the national team."For such an important game, we need to do a few things; in regards to strength conditioning, in regards to understanding what it needs, in regards to how important this game is, and in regards to mental strength and self-confidence," Stimac said."So, we work on all aspects needed for our boys to be on top of their form in this game."The head coach stressed the importance of patience and clever play against Kuwait."There are two key points for the preparations for this game. First, winning the game is crucial. And to reach that target, we need to be very clever. We need to understand that in the game, we require patience," Stimac said."If we don't open the scoring in the first half an hour, we need to be intelligent and play quality football together with pace. All these aspects are very important and we have to prepare for them."India has not won in six matches and has scored only one goal in those games. However, Stimac believes that his team has the potential to overcome Kuwait."Each of those matches was very tough and I can clearly state that we controlled all those games in superb ways," Stimac said."We dominated for the bigger parts in each one of these games. We were above them physically. But on other occasions, before the Kuwait games, we had many games that helped us reach that level.""But it is a different game now because they are coming here when we didn't have the opportunity to play games. No league is being played now, no club is available. But we did play two games between us to reach the intensity we required.""And I need to tell you that the boys were superb in those two games. I am very happy with them; happy with everything that was done in the last three weeks," the coach added.

India's 27-member squad for the crucial World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait on June 6 has been announced, marking the end of Sunil Chhetri's illustrious international career. The squad, selected by head coach Igor Stimac, includes notable absences due to injuries.Forward Parthib Gogoi and defender Muhammad Hammad have been ruled out after sustaining minor injuries during training. Stimac expressed his appreciation for their professionalism and hard work, emphasizing the intense competition within the team.The remaining players will continue their training in Bhubaneswar until May 29, when they will travel to Kolkata for the match against Kuwait at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. India currently sits second in Group A with four points from four matches.The top two teams in the group will advance to Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and secure a berth at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027. Chhetri, India's all-time leading scorer with 94 goals, will retire from international football after the Kuwait match.He will leave the scene as India's most-capped player with 151 appearances, bowing out as the third-highest goal scorer among active players behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Chhetri's retirement marks the end of an era for Indian football, as he has been a symbol of the sport's growth and popularity in the country.The squad includes experienced players such as goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, defender Sandesh Jhingan, and midfielder Anirudh Thapa. Young talents like forward Rahim Ali and midfielder Jeakson Singh Thounaojam will also be looking to make their mark.India will face a tough challenge against Kuwait, who are ranked 146th in the FIFA World Rankings, 20 places above India. However, the Blue Tigers will be determined to give Chhetri a fitting farewell and secure a positive result in their quest for World Cup qualification.

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.

Lalengmawia Ralte, a key midfielder for the Indian national football team, faces a potential dilemma as his university examination conflicts with India's crucial World Cup qualifier against Kuwait on June 6. The match holds immense significance as India aims to qualify for the third round of a World Cup qualifying cycle for the first time.Ralte, who has earned 18 senior team caps, has reportedly requested to be excused from the preparatory camp due to his exam. However, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has asked him to discuss the matter with head coach Igor Stimac.In addition to Ralte's potential absence, India may also miss Akash Mishra, Rahul KP, and Mohammed Yasir due to injuries. Skipper Sunil Chhetri could also join the camp later than May 10 due to a family illness.Ralte's absence would be a significant blow to India's midfield. In the recently concluded Indian Super League (ISL) season, he played a pivotal role for Mumbai City FC, boasting an 85% passing accuracy and creating 17 chances. He was named player of the match in the final against Mohun Bagan Super Giant.Mumbai City coach Petr Krakty praised Ralte's performance, saying, "Apuiah (Ralte's nickname) handled the team fantastically." He added that Ralte deserves "a bit more recognition" despite other Indian players scoring goals.India's chances of qualifying for the third round of the World Cup qualifiers hinge on the results of their matches against Kuwait and Qatar. A victory against Kuwait would boost their hopes, while a defeat could jeopardize their chances.The AIFF is hopeful that Ralte will be able to resolve the conflict between his exam and the national team's commitments. However, if he is unable to participate, India will have to find a suitable replacement to fill the void in their midfield.

Indian football's senior men's team head coach Igor Stimac has unveiled his second list of 15 probables for the Bhubaneswar camp in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary joint qualification round 2 matches against Kuwait and Qatar. This announcement follows the release of the first list of 26 probables on Saturday.The 26 players from the first list will commence training in the Odisha capital on May 10. The 15 players from the second list, comprising players from Mumbai City FC and Mohun Bagan SG who contested the ISL Cup final, will join the camp on May 15.A total of 41 players will participate in the national camp. The Blue Tigers will face Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6 before traveling to Qatar on June 11 for their final two matches of Group A.India currently stands second in the group with four points from four matches. The top two teams in the group will advance to Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and secure their place at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.Second List of 15 Probables for Bhubaneswar Camp (Training from May 15):* Goalkeepers: Phurba Tempa Lachenpa, Vishal Kaith* Defenders: Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Mehtab Singh, Rahul Bheke, Subhasish Bose* Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Deepak Tangri, Lalengmawia Ralte, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Liston Colaco, Sahal Abdul Samad* Forwards: Manvir Singh, Vikram Partap SinghFirst List of 26 Probables for Bhubaneswar Camp (Training from May 10):* Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu* Defenders: Amey Ganesh Ranawade, Jay Gupta, Lalchungnunga, Muhammad Hammad, Narender, Nikhil Poojary, Roshan Singh Naorem* Midfielders: 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: David Lalhlansanga, Jithin Madathil Subran, Lalrinzuala, Parthib Sundar Gogoi, Rahim Ali, Sunil Chhetri