The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup — set to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — is heating up, with several nations already punching their tickets to football’s grandest stage.
As expected, the host nations — USA, Canada, and Mexico — have secured automatic qualification. Meanwhile, the qualifying battles across continents are entering their decisive stages.
In Europe (UEFA), familiar giants like France, England, Portugal, and Spain continue to flex their muscles, cruising through their groups with authority. Germany, too, have reasserted their pedigree, comfortably topping their qualifying pool.
Down in South America (CONMEBOL), defending world champions Argentina and long-time rivals Brazil are among the early nations to clinch their spots, extending their remarkable World Cup legacies.
Over in Asia (AFC), heavyweights Japan and South Korea have already booked their places, leaving Indian football fans to wonder: where does India stand in this global race for a ticket to the 2026 World Cup?
Will India play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
To put it plainly, the answer is a resounding no, India did not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Blue Tigers' campaign came to an end after a 2-1 defeat to reigning Asian champions Qatar in their final second-round qualifier on June 11. That result left India third in Group A, falling short of the top-two finish required to advance to the third round of the AFC qualifiers.
Reaching the third round would not only have kept their World Cup dream alive but also secured automatic entry into the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, with just one win in six matches, India’s hopes of booking a ticket to North America came to an end.
FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC qualifiers 2nd round Group A points table
| Rank | Team | Matches | Won | Draw | Lost | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qatar | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| 2 | Kuwait | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 3 | India | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 4 | Afghanistan | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
Despite continued growth and passion for the sport at home, India are still waiting to make their first-ever appearance at a FIFA World Cup.
The Blue Tigers can still qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup but the recent draw against Singapore has left them with a lot to do in order to make the cut.
MORE: Who will win FIFA World Cup 2026? | Football matches today
What is India's FIFA Ranking?
India slipped one place to 134th in the latest FIFA rankings released on September 18, despite a commendable performance at the CAFA Nations Cup in Tajikistan and a hard-earned draw against Singapore in their most recent outing.
The men's Indian football team's best ranking has been 94, recorded in February 1996. The Blue Tigers recorded their lowest rank, 154th, back in 2012.
When is India's Next Football Match?
As per Indian Standard Time (IST)
- Match: India vs Singapore
- Date & Time: Tuesday, October 14 (7:30 p.m.)
- Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Goa
The Blue Tigers are set to meet Singapore once more in the reverse fixture of their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Group C clash, taking place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Tuesday.
In their previous encounter on Thursday at Singapore’s National Stadium in Kallang, India snatched a dramatic late equalizer to secure a 1-1 draw. That result lifted the Indian men’s team to third in Group C with two points from three games, while Singapore sit atop the group with five points.
Who is the favourite to win the World Cup?
Lionel Messi's Argentina enter as the reigning champions after edging out France on penalties in what many consider one of the most memorable finals ever.
Both nations are once again among the early favorites to lift the trophy when the tournament rolls around next year. Here's the latest odds for the countries favoured to win the 2026 World Cup, as per trusted bookmaker Dafabet.
Odds correct at time of publish but subject to change. Check back here for updated prices as the market moves.
| Country | Odds |
| Spain | 6.00 |
| Brazil | 7.00 |
| France | 7.50 |
| England | 8.00 |
| Argentina | 9.00 |
| Germany | 11.00 |
| Portugal | 12.00 |
| Netherlands | 21.00 |
MORE: Top October events | How odds work | How to bet in-play | Best betting apps