Home Match vs Kuwait Crucial For India In FIFA WC qualifiers: Igor Stimac

India's home match against Kuwait on June 6 could be among head coach Igor Stimac's most important matches at the helm of affairs as the country seeks to make it to the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time in its history. Stimac is believed to have told the technical committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in a virtual meeting on Saturday that even if India beats Afghanistan twice (home and away) in March, it will still be difficult to qualify for the third round if the team does not do well against Kuwait.

"He said the Kuwait match at home in June will be the most important upcoming match if India is to qualify for the third round. He gave his reasoning and explained it to the members," according to a source.

The online meeting was held to review the performance of the Indian team at the AFC Asian Cup and chart the way forward.

India had lost all their three group matches and did not score any goal in their disastrous Asian Cup campaign in Qatar last month.

He had promised after the Asian Cup debacle that he would lead the country to its maiden third round of the FIFA World Cup qualification.

India are placed in Group A in the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification along with Qatar, Kuwait and Afghanistan. The top two teams from the group will progress to the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Blue Tigers have never advanced to the third round of AFC's FIFA World Cup qualifiers but they are now in with a chance after beating Kuwait 1-0 in Kuwait City in November last year.

"The mission to beat Kuwait in the away game and get three points has been accomplished. Now the two games against Afghanistan and the home match against Kuwait will be