India national football team made history on Saturday, securing their qualification to the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers, the furthest the country has ever advanced in a World Cup qualifying campaign. A 2-0 win over Myanmar at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, combined with Cambodia drawing against Tajikistan, confirmed India advancement. Igor Stimac coaching tenure ended with this historic milestone, which caps a steady improvement in Indian football over the past four years.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey called the result a historic day for Indian football and a vindication of the long-term investment in youth development and professional coaching. Star midfielder Suresh Singh Wangjam, who scored the match-winning brace, was mobbed by teammates and staff at the final whistle. India will now face powerhouses including Japan and South Korea in the third round, but football fans across the country celebrated the qualification as a breakthrough moment for the sport in the nation.