World Cup qualifier against Qatar postponed

All India Football Federation (AIFF) General Secretary Kushal Das said that the match against the Asian Champion in Bhubaneswar has been postponed and added a new date will be known next week. “India’s match against Qatar has been postponed. It will be played later this year but the new date is yet to be decided,” said Das.

Asked about the status of the match against Afghanistan on June 9, he said, “That game will also be postponed.” Das said the new dates for India’s remaining World Cup qualifying matches will be known during a meeting between the AFC and AIFF officials in New Delhi next Tuesday.

Already out of World Cup contention after failing to win a single game, India is also scheduled to play against Bangladesh (June 4 in Dhaka) and Afghanistan (June 9 in Kolkata). The FIFA and AFC had said that they will provide an update on these fixtures in the coming days.

Although India lost its 2022 World Cup qualifier to Oman in Guwahati, it kept its chances alive after holding Qatar to a goalless draw in Doha. But last-minute draws against Bangladesh and Afghanistan followed by a narrow 0-1 away loss to Oman put it out of contention for a next round berth. India is now seeking to qualify for the 2023 Asian Cup.