The 102nd-ranked India will take on the 61st-placed Asian champions Qatar in Bhubaneswar, in the second round of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The tournament is also serving as a qualification route for AFC Asian Cup 2027
After a heartening 1-0 away win against Kuwait on November 16, the Indian football team will now take on Asian champions Qatar in their second group match of the second round of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which are also serving as a qualification route for the AFC Asian Cup 2027. (Match Blog | Streaming | More Football News)
Manvir Singh's nifty left-footed strike in the 75th-minute had given India victory at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City. But for their next match at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, the task ahead of captain Sunil Chhetri and coach Igor Stimac's team is onerous.
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Qatar are ranked 61st and are strong contenders to make the cut for the 2026 World Cup, while India are in the 102nd spot and qualification appears as a distant dream as of now. But a message from Liverpool and Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker could serve as fuel to the Indian engine.
In a video posted by the English Premier League's India handle on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Becker said: "Love you India. You'll never walk alone." You can watch the video message below.
The message, in which Becker can be seen making the 'heart' sign with his hands, resonated with Indian fans online, with many of them expressing that such acts are the reason why they love Becker so much. Some even called him the best goalkeeper they have ever seen.
'You'll Never Walk Alone' is a reference to the 1945 song with the same name, written by Oscar Hammerstein II and composed by Richard Rodgers for their musical Carousel. The song was eventually adopted by Liverpool FC and has since become a fan anthem of sorts.