FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Three key battles to influence Kuwait vs India tie

India beat Kuwait in 2023 SAFF Championships final

India is set to kickstart its qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 16th November 2023. The side plays Kuwait in their Group A opener at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City. Qatar and Afghanistan complete the group where the top two out of four teams will make it into the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers from the AFC region.

Igor Stimac’s men will face an uphill battle against a Kuwaiti side determined to advance into the third round. The latter are favourites alongside Qatar to make it out of Group A but India will be looking to cause an upset. In order to snatch a positive result from the game on November 16, Indian players need to repeat their performance from the 2023 SAFF Championships final where they beat Kuwait on penalties.

As the fixture approaches closer, here is a look at the three key battles that will play a major role in deciding the outcome:

Shabib Al Khaldi vs Sandesh Jhingan

Shabib Al-Khaldi is a man in form who has been scoring goals for fun lately. The forward scored a brace against Bahrain and Syria in friendlies recently. He will be the obvious threat from the Kuwait forward line. The 25-year-old scored in the SAFF Championships final against the Indians as well.

Sandesh Jhingan is also enjoying a rich spell of form judging by his performances in the Indian Super League. The FC Goa defender has led the side to the top of the league table and will be key while representing India and stopping players like Shabib Al-Khaldi from scoring. His leadership in defence will be vital.

Fahad Al-Hajeri vs Sunil Chhetri

Sunil Chhetri is the driving force behind the Indian men’s football team’s attack. He is central to their forward play and provides immense quality in the final third. Despite his advancing age, the captain does not shy away from pressing with intent and working hard for the team. Igor Stimac relies on him for goals and Kuwait’s defenders must know that before heading into the game.

Fahad Al-Hajeri leads Kuwait’s defensive line. The centre-back is adept at winning aerial and ground duels. He loves to be physical and use his strength to dominate forwards. His duel with Sunil Chhetri will be interesting to see and whoever comes out on top will likely help their team produce a good result. 

Ahmed Al-Dhefiri vs Sahal Abdul Samad

The battle of the midfield is always crucial as whichever team dominates the centre of the park goes on to dominate the game. Ahmed Al-Dhefiri is technically brilliant and loves to have possession of the ball in midfield to influence the forward play. He recently scored against Bahrain in an international friendly and looks to be in good form.

Sahal Abdul Samad, on the other hand, will be responsible for creating scoring chances for the Indian forwards. Igor Stimac trusts the Mohun Bagan Super Giant player in the No.10 role where he thrives due to his vision, penetrative passes, exceptional dribbling and the tendency to get in scoring positions himself. Both Ahmed Al-Dhefiri and Sahal Abdul Samad play crucial roles for their respective teams and must perform well when the sides meet.