Igor Stimac, appointed head coach of the Indian National Football Team in 2019, finds himself under increasing scrutiny following a series of underwhelming performances. While early optimism surrounded his tenure, recent results have fallen short of expectations. 

He became the first foreign coach to win consecutive SAFF Championship titles in 2021 and 2023, with the latter campaign marking India's first victories over West Asian nations in consecutive matches. He even led India to a record-breaking three titles in 2023.

However, these achievements are overshadowed by recent struggles. India's qualification for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup offered a glimmer of hope, but the team failed to register a single point in the tournament, leading to a drop in FIFA rankings.

Igor Stimac's contract with the Indian Football Federation hinges on performance. If India qualifies for the third round of the FIFA qualifiers, his contract gets extended to 2026. Otherwise, it ends after their final match against Qatar. 

The current World Cup qualifiers paint a particularly concerning picture. India's draw and lost against Afghanistan and again a draw in crucial match against Kuwait have significantly dampened their qualification hopes for the next round.

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