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India coach Igor Stimac announced the first list of 26 probable participants for the Bhubaneswar camp. The team will prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 matches against Kuwait and Qatar. The second list of the problems will be announced in a few days. India won their opening game against Kuwait in November 2023 but fell to Qatar 0-3 in Odisha. Later, the Blue Tigers faced Afghanistan and suffered a 1-2 defeat in Guwahati.
However, India are still second in the table and have the opportunity to qualify for the third round by defeating Kuwait. For the qualifiers, India will undergo a 26-day training camp in Bhubaneswar, and coach Stimac released a list of 26 players in the initial list. The list includes names like Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and Nikhil Poojary.
India to begin training camp in Bhubaneswar on May 10
According to AIFF, “India will begin their training camp in the Odisha capital on May 10. The Blue Tigers will take on Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6 before travelling to face Qatar in Doha on June 11 in their last two matches of Group A. India are currently placed second in the group, with four points from four matches. The top two teams in the group will qualify for Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and book their berth at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.”
The list released by Igor Stimac includes four I-League players as well including Muhammad Hammad (Real Kashmir), Edmund Lalrindika (Inter Kashi), David Lalhlansanga (Mohammedan SC) and Lalrinzuala (Aizwal FC). The team will also see Vibin Mohanan and Jithin MS receiving their first call-ups to the senior team.
The first list of 26 probable for the Bhubaneswar camp:
- Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
- Defenders: Amey Ganesh Ranawade, Jay Gupta, Lalchungnunga, Muhammad Hammad, Narender, Nikhil Poojary, Roshan Singh Naorem.
- Midfielders: Brandon Fernandes, Edmund Lalrindika, Imran Khan, Isak Vanlalruatfela, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Mohammad Yasir, Nandhakumar Sekar, Rahul Kannoly Praveen, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Vibin Mohanan.
- Forwards: David Lalhlansanga, Jithin Madathil Subran, Lalrinzuala, Parthib Sundar Gogoi, Rahim Ali, Sunil Chhetri.
