How did India fare in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers?

India only won one game in second round

Indian men’s national team is set to kick off its 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers campaign with fixtures against Kuwait and Qatar on 16 November 2023 and 21 November 2023 respectively. Afghanistan is the fourth team in Group A alongside the Blue Tigers. Igor Stimac’s men will attempt to fight against heavy odds and aim to finish in the top two places in the group for a place in the third round of World Cup qualifiers in the AFC region.

The beginning of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers campaign presents a perfect opportunity to look back at India’s past performances at the qualifiers, particularly the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Indian team had to play in the first round of the qualifiers due to their low rank and faced plenty of obstacles along the way.

Stephen Constantine was the head coach of the Indian men’s football team, tasked with delivering the FIFA World Cup qualification, a feat that had never happened before barring the 1950 edition (India refused to participate). While he was unsuccessful in making the impossible possible, here is a look at the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers campaign in deeper detail:

Who did India face in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers?

India faced Nepal in the first round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers owing to their lower rank. Unlike the 2026 qualifiers, India did not get an automatic entry into the second round. 

After safely navigating past Nepal, India was drawn into Group D with favourites Iran, Oman, Turkmenistan, and Guam. India failed to go past the second round of qualifiers after losing seven of their eight games and were eliminated. As expected, Iran secured a top spot and a place in the third round of qualifiers, eventually going on to represent Asia at the FIFA World Cup in Russia.

How India’s 2018 qualifying campaign go?

India came up against neighbours Nepal in the first round of the 2018 FIFA WC Qualifiers in the AFC region. The Blue Tigers advanced into the second round by winning the contest thanks to a 2-0 score over two legs. It was a Sunil Chhetri brace that led India to a 2-0 win in the first leg. As the second leg finished without a goal, the Indian team advanced into the next round.

Indian football team saw itself battling in Group D against the likes of Iran, Oman, Turkmenistan and Guam. India began its campaign with a 1-2 defeat to Oman. Then, defeats to Guam, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Oman (away) followed. The only win from their eight fixtures came against Guam when the Blue Tigers beat them by a 1-0 score line thanks to Robin Singh’s solitary goal.

Post the win against Guam, India lost their remaining FIFA World Cup qualifiers fixtures against Iran and Turkmenistan to bow out of the contention and finish last in Group D. From eight fixtures, the Blue Tigers lost seven, scoring five goals and conceding 18 in return. Interestingly, India’s 3-0 defeat to Iran earlier in the group was later officially awarded as a 3-0 automatic win to Iran by FIFA after India fielded ineligible Eugenson Lyngdoh.

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