The Indian team's road to the 2026 edition of FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and USA begins in November 2023, with the expanded 48-team tournament offering greater opportunities to teams in all confederations, with eight direct spots available to AFC nations and a further place open via the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen that happens, the country will go mad. As an Indian, it\u2019s going to be one of the best days of my life. I have so many dreams about that day. It is going to be humongous. The anticipation, the hope that it will bring to the complete nation is something that I know I will never forget in my life. There are so many people like me who can\u2019t wait to see that day, and I just hope it comes soon for us,\u201d said Sunil Chhetri to FIFA.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Chhetri, who holds both the all-time goalscoring and caps records for India, will remain an integral part of their latest attempt to reach the global showpiece, a feat which the world\u2019s second-most populous nation has yet to achieve.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The first step on that road comes in round two of AFC qualifying, where India have been drawn in Group A and will come up against 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar, Kuwait and Afghanistan, who saw off Mongolia over two legs in round one.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
To progress to the third round, from which six of the AFC\u2019s eight direct qualification spots will be decided, the Blue Tigers need to finish in the top two of their four-team section, with the first of six games coming with an away tie against Kuwait on November 16.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen I dream, I dream more as an Indian, more as a fan. Me being there in any capacity, it doesn\u2019t matter, because I know I\u2019ll be a fan. I\u2019ll be watching every game that India plays and rooting for my country.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBecause I\u2019m 39, I don\u2019t have long-term targets as far as me being on the pitch is concerned. I think about the next three months, and then the next three months, and then we see how it goes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cRight now, I feel really good physically. I can see that I do contribute to the team, both for my country and my club. As long as I\u2019m enjoying it, I will be here. I don\u2019t know how many days, how many months, how many years that will be. The day I stop enjoying, and the day I can\u2019t contribute, I will be done.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019m just happy that I\u2019m here. This is the bonus period, I\u2019m just enjoying it, I don\u2019t know when it\u2019s going to end. I just want to enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India, who currently stand 102nd on the FIFA\/Coca-Cola Men\u2019s World Ranking, are coached by Igor Stimac. The former defender helped Croatia upset the odds and reach the France 1998 semi-finals, going down 2-1 to the hosts before claiming bronze with victory over the Netherlands in the third-place play-off.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Chhetri believes that World Cup pedigree is working in India\u2019s favour and feels Stimac, since taking charge in 2019, has provided the ideal foundation and support network for his squad to grow and develop.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cApart from his technical and tactical knowledge, him being in a similar situation with the Croatia team, and doing something extraordinary and amazing, has helped him understand us a lot,\u201d Chhetri said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe is more than a coach, he is more like a father figure \u2013 or an elder brother for people like me who are fossils \u2013 to everyone. He understands and takes that part of his coaching job very seriously.<\/p>\r\n\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2023\/11\/it-will-be-humongous-when-india-qualify-for-the-world-cup-sunil-chhetri.webp", "alt_img": "It will be humongous when India qualify for the World Cup: Sunil Chhetri", "alt_title": "It will be humongous when India qualify for the World Cup: Sunil Chhetri", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "It Will Be Humongous When India Qualify For The World Cup: Sunil Chhetri On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "It Will Be Humongous When India Qualify For The World Cup: Sunil Chhetri, FIFA World Cup: Sunil Chhetri\u2019s eyes light up and a broad grin spreads across his face as he considers the.", "seo_keywords": "World Cup, Sunil Chhetri, Photo Credit, New Delhi, FIFA World Cup, The Indian, FIFA Play, Off Tournament, Blue Tigers, Cola Men, World Ranking, Igor Stimac", "tag": "", "tagging": "World Cup, Sunil Chhetri, Photo Credit, New Delhi, FIFA World Cup, The Indian, FIFA Play, Off Tournament, Blue Tigers, Cola Men, World Ranking, Igor Stimac", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "it-will-be-humongous-when-india-qualify-for-the-world-cup-sunil-chhetri", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "993", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2023-11-07 12:24:03", "updated": "2023-11-07 12:24:03", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "World Cup, Sunil Chhetri, Photo Credit, New Delhi, FIFA World Cup, The Indian, FIFA Play, Off Tournament, Blue Tigers, Cola Men, World Ranking, Igor Stimac", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "23", "jio_date": "2023-11-07 12:24:03", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "0", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "sports_name": "football", "cnmid": "819460", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/sports-news\/it-will-be-humongous-when-india-qualify-for-the-world-cup-sunil-chhetri-10169" }