New Delhi:
All India Football Federation (AIFF) convened a committee held a virtual dialogue with senior national team head coach Igor Stimac following concerns regarding the team’s performance after a debacle against Afghanistan in World Cup 2026 qualifiers last month.
Despite criticism, Igor Stimac will continue to head India’s FIFA World Cup 2026 second-round qualifying matches against Kuwait and Qatar, as AIFF has directed him to concentrate on the upcoming fixtures.
“A year ago, I mentioned our intent to qualify for Round 3, and presently, we stand second in the group with two teams advancing. We will revisit this matter post our match against Kuwait on June 6, 2024,” Igor Stimac conveyed to the committee as per the AIFF press release.
During the discussion, Stimac mentioned his previous remarks during a press conference, clarifying that his statement regarding potential resignation was in response to a query posed in that press briefing.
Expressing anticipation for the upcoming game against Kuwait, Stimac asserted its significance, underscoring the opportunity it presents for India to secure a place in Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time.
India had a disastrous run in the recently concluded World Cup Qualifiers against Afghanistan where they suffered a 1-2 defeat against 158th ranked country.
India eyes big win against Kuwait
Igor Stimac affirmed the collective determination of the staff and players to seize this historic moment with a victory. Following fruitful discussions with AIFF committee members, Stimac conveyed his appreciation for their concerns and expressed optimism about collectively creating history in June.
“The game against Kuwait on June 6 will be one of the biggest days in Indian football, as a win will immensely brighten our chances to qualify for Round 3 for the first time. The staff and the players are all aware of this historic moment that awaits us, and we will do everything in our capacity to win,” Stimac said to PTI.
The meeting was convinced by Menla Ethenpa, who serves as a Member of the Executive Committee and holds the position of Chairperson of the Finance Committee; Anilkumar Prabhakaran, also a Member of the Executive Committee and Chairperson of the Competitions Committee; M Satyanarayan, Acting Secretary General of AIFF; and Coach Stimac.
