Can India compete in FIFA 2026?

The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams rather than 32, which has increased India's chances as the format change increases Asian team places from 4.5 to 8. 



After a 73-year wait, the Indian national football team is finally on its way to making its mark at FIFA 2026. While India qualified for the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, it later decided not to compete in the world's largest football event.   

The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams rather than 32, which has increased India's chances as the format change increases Asian team places from 4.5 to 8.

India does not need to compete in the first round of Asian qualifying for the World Cup 2026 because it is placed among the top 20 Asian teams in the FIFA rankings. The team must, however, begin participating in Preliminary Round 2, where 36 teams will be grouped into nine groups of four sides each. 

Preliminary Round 2 is set to begin in November 2023 and last through June 2024, and India will need to make a strong effort to finish among the top two teams in their group.

Because India is ranked among the top 20 Asian teams in the FIFA rankings, it does not need to compete in the first round of Asian qualifying for the World Cup 2026. However, the squad must begin competing in Preliminary Round 2, where 36 teams will be divided into nine groups of four sides each. 

Preliminary Round 2 is scheduled to begin in November 2023 and end in June 2024, and India will need to put in a significant effort to place among the top two teams in their group.

Later this year, the Indian football team will compete in the Merdeka Cup, which will be hosted in Malaysia from October 14 to 17. The men in blue will compete in the cup against Palestine, Lebanon, and Malaysia.

The team rose from 101 to 100 in the most current FIFA world rankings. This is the team's first appearance in the top 100 rankings since December of 2018.

Furthermore, there is a likelihood that star player Sunil Chhetri could retire on or before 2026; can the budding new players be able to replace his legacy in FIFA 2026?
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