Hyderabad will host the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers match between India and Kuwait, as confirmed on February 6 (Tuesday) by KT Mahi, the chairman of theTelangana Football Association (TFA). The fixture is scheduled to take place on June 6, 2024. This decision to host the high-profile clash in Hyderabad is expected to provide a significant boost to the state's football scene.
KT Mahi, in his announcement, highlighted the approval for hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier in Hyderabad. He acknowledged the collaborative efforts of TFA officials, including GP Palguna, TFA secretary, and Telangana’s Chief Minister. KT Mahi credited the Chief Minister’s positive response as instrumental in making this historic event possible, and mentioned Palguna's efforts also contributed to garnering support for financial assistance to state sports associations.
“The positive response from the Chief Minister has paved the way for this historic event. Palguna also requested to provide financial assistance to all the State Sports Associations. And, we have received a very encouraging response,” Mahi said as quoted by Sportstar.
Historic Moment For Hyderabad And Telangana
KT Mahi expressed gratitude to the All India Football Federation President Kalyan Chaubey for entrusting the TFA with this unique opportunity. He emphasised that the World Cup qualifier marks a historic moment as Telangana prepares to host the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers match for the first time.
“We express our deepest gratitude to everyone involved in making this momentous event a reality. The support and collaboration from all quarters have been instrumental in reaching this milestone,” Mahi said further.
The upcoming match between India and Kuwait will also double as a qualifier for the AFC Asian Cup 2027. Presently positioned third in their group, if India secure a spot among the top two teams, they will directly qualify for the Asian continental championship and advance to the subsequent round of FIFA qualifiers.
Although finishing third or fourth will exclude them from the FIFA process, it will not extinguish their Asian aspirations. Instead, they will enter the third round of qualifying for the tournament, where additional qualification spots will be available.