A look at India’s best performances in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

New Delhi [India]: The rise of Indian football has been gradual yet consistent. The journey for the Blue Tigers in World Cup Qualifying matches has been challenging thus far.

The Indian Men’s Football Team experienced their first taste of World Cup Qualifying matches in 1985 for the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Their debut match in the qualifying round resulted in a 2-1 loss against Indonesia.

They skipped the 1990 World Cup Qualifiers but returned for the 1994 edition. So far, India has played 48 World Cup qualifiers and won 10 games. Their most successful campaign was the 2002 World Cup Qualifiers, where the Blue Tigers earned 11 points in six games, as per an Indian Super League (ISL) press release.

While World Cup qualification remains a distant goal, the performances of the Indian Football Team consistently ignite hopes for a brighter future. With that in mind, let us take a look at some of India’s best results in the World Cup qualifiers.

-India 2-0 Philippines – FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 1998

India defeated the Philippines 2-0 in the 1998 World Cup Qualifiers in a tightly contested match. Goals from Raman Vijayan and Bruno Coutinho ensured that India secured a famous victory against a strong Philippines team. In the group stage, India finished third with four points, behind Qatar and Sri Lanka.

-India 1-0 UAE – FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2002

India secured a famous victory at home against the UAE in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers match. In a tightly contested game, a 71st-minute set-piece goal by Jules Alberto proved decisive, helping India overcome the strongest team in their group. The 2002 World Cup Qualifying campaign proved to be one of India’s best, as they finished third in the group standings, tied with Yemen in second place with 11 points.

-India 5-0 Brunei – FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2002

Under the coaching of Sukhwinder Singh, India comfortably defeated Brunei 5-0 in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. The Blue Tigers showcased their attacking prowess, with goals contributed by Alberto, IM Vijayan, Baichung Bhutia, Jo Paul Ancheri, and Hakim Abdul. This resounding victory marked India’s largest margin of success in a World Cup qualifiers match.

-India 1-0 Singapore – FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2006

India began their 2006 World Cup qualification impressively, securing a 1-0 victory against Singapore in a match hosted at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa. The winning goal came from Renedy Singh. Under the management of Stephen Constantine, the team displayed tenacity and grit to secure three crucial points, marking a positive start to the 2006 World Cup Qualifying campaign.

-Qatar 0-0 India – FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2022

India earned a commendable draw against Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup 2019 Champions Qatar in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers, in a match hosted at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. The newly appointed national team coach, Igor Stimac, faced a challenging encounter as Qatar, in stellar form, dominated the game from the first whistle.

Despite relentless waves of Qatari attacks, India’s defence, marshalled by goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and defenders Sandesh Jhingan and Adil Khan, held steadfast. The back four showcased exceptional teamwork, thwarting every Qatari chance that came their way. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s unwavering performance in goal played a pivotal role in preserving a clean sheet.

Despite the Blue Tigers having their fair share of opportunities, they could not convert them, and the match ultimately ended in a hard-fought 0-0 stalemate.