Football

IND Vs KUW, FIFA WC Qualifiers: Sunil Chhetri's Final Game Ends In A Draw - In Pics

The talismanic Sunil Chhetri stirred up emotions in his final international outing but the Indian football team just could not rise to the occasion as it settled for a goal-less draw against Kuwait in its crucial World Cup qualifying match on Thursday, critically hurting its chances of going into the next round. An emotional Chhetri was seen sobbing after the end of the match and when he was given a guard of honour by his team-mates. He buried his head into head coach Igor Stimac's arms while crying. If India fail to beat Qatar, then Kuwait -- currently on four points -- can make it to the third round of the World Cup qualifiers if they beat Afghanistan on June 11.

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FIFA WC 2026 qualifier India vs Kuwait Photo_1
FIFA WC 2026 qualifier: India vs Kuwait | Photo: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra

India’s captain Sunil Chhetri acknowledges fans after his farewell match, a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier football match between India and Kuwait, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), in Kolkata. Chhetri retires from international football as the sport's fourth highest goal-scorer.

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FIFA WC 2026 qualifier India vs Kuwait Photo_2
Sunil Chhetri felicitated at Salt Lake Stadium | Photo: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra
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India’s captain Sunil Chhetri with wife Sonam Bhattacharya and other family members being felicitated as he retires from the international football, after a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier football match between India and Kuwait, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), in Kolkata.

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FIFA WC 2026 qualifier India vs Kuwait Photo_3
Sunil Chhetri and IM Vijayan | Photo: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra
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India’s captain Sunil Chhetri being felicitated by former Indian footballer IM Vijayan as he retires from the international football, after a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier football match between India and Kuwait, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), in Kolkata.

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FIFA WC 2026 qualifier India vs Kuwait Photo_4
Sunil Chhetri acknowledges fans | Photo: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra
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India’s captain Sunil Chhetri acknowledges fans during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier football match between India and Kuwait, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), in Kolkata.

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FIFA WC 2026 qualifier India vs Kuwait Photo_5
Sunil Chhetri retires from international football | Photo: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra
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India’s captain Sunil Chhetri acknowledges fans after a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier football match between India and Kuwait, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), in Kolkata.

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FIFA WC 2026 qualifier India vs Kuwait Photo_6
Sunil Chhetri at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan | Photo: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra
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India’s captain Sunil Chhetri acknowledges fans after a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier football match between India and Kuwait, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), in Kolkata.

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FIFA WC 2026 qualifier India vs Kuwait Photo_7
India’s captain Sunil Chhetri | Photo: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra
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India’s captain Sunil Chhetri during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier football match between India and Kuwait, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), in Kolkata.

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FIFA WC 2026 qualifier India vs Kuwait Photo_8
Sunil Chhetri vies for the ball | Photo: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra
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India’s captain Sunil Chhetri vies for the ball during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier football match between India and Kuwait, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), in Kolkata.

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FIFA WC 2026 qualifier India vs Kuwait Photo_9
India’s Brandon Fernandes vies for the ball | Photo: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra
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India’s Brandon Fernandes vies for the ball during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier football match between India and Kuwait, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), in Kolkata.

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FIFA WC 2026 qualifier India vs Kuwait Photo_10
Sunil Chhetri and Edmund Lalrindika vie for the ball | Photo: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra
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India’s captain Sunil Chhetri and Edmund Lalrindika vie for the ball with Kuwait's Fahad Alhajeri during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier football match between India and Kuwait, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), in Kolkata.