India is unbeaten at home this year. Still, the Blue Tigers are going to have the biggest test on Tuesday on the lush green turf of Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. Igor Stimac's men will take on Asian champions Qatar in their second match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 preliminary joint qualification second round. 

With a victory against fancied Kuwait at their home only four days ago, the senior national team should be bolstered with the three points while facing the 61st-ranked Qatari side. 

Chief national coach Igor Stimac told in the pre-match media interaction, “It is a game, where there is nothing to lose for us but a lot to win for. So we should go for it all out.” 

Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu accompanied the Croatian in the press conference. He is the man who had a memorable World Cup qualifier in 2019 where the custodian made 11 saves as India held Qatar 0-0 in Qatar. 

On Monday during the media interaction, he giggled stating, "Hopefully I have less work this time. The goalkeepers enjoy a match most when they have the least work under the bars in a match. I want the players in front of me to enjoy, get on the scoresheet, and give us the win.”

Qatar's formidability does not need much explanation. After hosting the blockbuster World Cup 12 months ago, the Maroons have had a good year so far under a highly experienced head coach like Carlos Queiroz, who has managed the likes of Iran, Portugal, South Africa, Colombia, Egypt, and Real Madrid at the club level. 

However, their recent form was concerning with two draws and two losses (including 0-4 to Iran) in four friendly matches since September. Still, Qatar bounced back with the 8-1 drubbing of Afghanistan to start the Asian Qualifiers with a bang in Al-Rayyan. 

While this is the senior Qatar team's first visit to India, coach Queiroz is here for the second time. He was the Iran coach when they won 3-0 in Bangalore in the World Cup Qualifiers in 2015.