FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: India clubbed in Group A

India were in Pot 2, courtesy their 18th rank in the AFC.

After the successful completion of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, now the focus shifts to the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The 23rd edition of the global championship will be a special one because it will see the participation of 48 teams from all across the globe. FIFA took a landmark decision to increase the number of teams from 32 to 48 from the 2026 edition onwards.

An increase in the total number of teams means that there will be at least eight teams from Asia. And to decide the final eight teams who’ll represent Asia in the next edition, the FIFA World Cup qualifiers will be held which also serve as the qualifiers for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup (Saudi Arabia).

What happened in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Draw?

The qualifiers will start this year and India have directly confirmed a place in the second round because of being placed in the pot 2. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) held the draws for the qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur today.

In the draw, India have clubbed in Group A alongside defending champions Qatar, 2023 SAFF Championship runners-up Kuwait and the fourth team will be decided after the match between Afghanistan and Mongolia.

After the completion of Round 1, the 36 teams will be grouped in nine groups of four each. The fixtures will be held in a home-and-away round-robin format from November 2023 till June 2024. 

The nine group toppers alongside the runners-up will qualify for the third round of the World Cup qualifiers and also secure a place at the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, Saudi Arabia.

The draw for the third round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held in 2024 where the 18 qualified teams will be divided into three groups of six teams each. The top two teams from the three groups will confirm a direct spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The other two direct AFC entrants will move on to the fourth qualifying round of the World Cup with one more possible spot being available through an international playoff.