India faced a tough challenge against Qatar in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier at the Kalinga stadium, Bhubaneswar. Despite a strong start from India, Qatar was able to secure a 3-0 victory with goals from Mustafa Meshaal, Almoez Ali, and Yusuf Abdurisag.

The match began with Qatar taking advantage of a loose ball in India’s box to score the first goal through Meshaal in the fourth minute. Despite their best efforts, India was unable to keep up with Qatar’s pressure and extend their lead in the first half.

The second half saw Qatar continuing to apply pressure on the Indian defense, with Akram Afif missing a close-range opportunity and causing trouble with his set-piece delivery. However, Amrinder Singh was able to save Afif’s shot and Ali was able to slide in and score the second goal for Qatar. Substitute Yusuf Abdurisag added a third goal with a header at the near post.

India had few opportunities to score throughout the match, with players like Anirudh Thapa and Sahal Abdul Samad missing chances. While India’s midfielders performed well, their forwards failed to trouble the champions of Asia. The match can be relived through a live blog on the website.