Qatar, we will be waiting for you: Igor Stimac

India boss Igor Stimac reminisced the nostalgia of Bhubaneswar.

The Indian national football team arrived in Bhubaneswar on Friday night as they are scheduled to face Qatar on November 21. This match marks their second encounter in the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Upon arrival, India's head coach, Igor Stimac, took to Twitter (X) to express his optimism about returning to Bhubaneswar, where they had previously forged unforgettable memories. He said, “We are finally back to where everything started, in a good and positive way for India, a few months back. In my old room in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It was at the end of May and beginning of June, when we started our pre-season preparation for the Tri-Nation Cup, Intercontinental Cup, and SAFF Championship over here.”

At the end, he welcomed the Qatar football team and showed his eagerness for the match against them. “I’m very happy to be here again. Qatar, we will be waiting for you”, he added. 

The Odisha government also welcomed the the Blue Tigers with a tweet which stated, “The #BlueTigers have arrived in Bhubaneswar for the #FIFAWorldCup Qualifier match.We welcome @IndianFootball team to #Odisha and wish them all the best for the match against Qatar.”

India, along with Qatar, Kuwait, and Afghanistan, have been placed in Group A for the second round matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Notably, both India and Qatar emerged victorious in their previous matches. 

India secured a 1-0 win over Kuwait at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City, while Qatar triumphed over Afghanistan with an impressive 8-1 scoreline at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

India are currently ranked 102 in the FIFA ranking, while Qatar hold the 61st position. This upcoming match against Qatar will prove to be the toughest for India.

Match: India vs Qatar

Venue: Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar. 

Time: 7 P.M.