Igor Stimac, the head coach of the Indian national football team, will continue to lead the team in the upcoming FIFA World Cup second-round qualifying matches against Kuwait and Qatar. This decision was made by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) despite calls for his dismissal following a shocking defeat to Afghanistan in March.
Following the loss to Afghanistan, a committee formed by AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey and led by vice-president N A Haris held discussions with Stimac in a virtual meeting. The technical committee, including Indian football legend IM Vijayan, recommended supporting Stimac for the upcoming crucial matches to secure a spot in Round 3 of the World Cup qualifiers.
During the meeting, Stimac addressed his earlier comments about resigning if India failed to qualify for the third round, stating that the focus now is on the matches against Kuwait and Qatar in June. He emphasized the significance of these games in determining India’s chances of advancing to Round 3 for the first time in history.
Stimac expressed confidence in the team’s preparations and the players’ commitment to achieving a historic milestone in Indian football. He highlighted the upcoming match against Kuwait as a crucial opportunity that could brighten India’s prospects of progressing in the qualifiers.
The AIFF committee members engaged in fruitful discussions with Stimac, showing their support and concern for the team’s success. The coach acknowledged the importance of unity and collective effort in creating history in June during the decisive matches.
India is set to host Kuwait at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium on June 6, followed by an away game against Qatar on June 11. The match against Kuwait is crucial as a victory would secure India’s qualification from the group for the first time, marking a significant achievement for Indian football on the international stage. Stimac, who took charge of the team in 2019, had his contract extended until 2026, showing the trust and confidence placed in him by the AIFF.
