Why is India Not Participating in 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw?

Once a footballing superpower, now a shadow of its former self. Indian football can be summed up in these words, as the Blue Tigers have now repeatedly failed to make it to the final stages of a World Cup. India used to play the Olympics regularly at one time, and even got a chance to feature in the 1950 World Cup. However, the All India Football Federation withdrew India's participation due to the expenses required for travelling to Brazil, along with the Olympics being the priority over the World Cup. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup nearing, many football fans from Indian must be wondering whether or not India in FIFA World Cup 2026 draw. Surely, those who watched the Asian Qualifiers know the whole story.

Ages have passed since then, and the nation is yet to achieve something big in major tournaments. A lot of hope has been invested in the new generation who possess the ability to take the country to greater heights, but their performance as of now speaks of a bleak future. You might be aware that the 2026 FIFA World Cup is slated to be held today, and might be wondering, ‘Is India in FIFA World Cup 2026 draw?’ Well, sorry to break your bubble, but India will not be in the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw. Join us to know all the information regarding how India's qualification campaign panned out and why they are not participating in the draw.

Why is India not participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw?

The Indian national football team failed to qualify from the Second Round of the Asian World Cup Qualifiers after finishing third in the group behind Qatar and Kuwait. The Blue Tigers were off to a dream start with a 1-0 win over Kuwait. However, they followed it up with a 3-0 loss against Qatar, before being held to a 0-0 stalemate against Afghanistan. Things worsened further when they lost 1-2 to the Afghans. Another frustrating draw against Kuwait and a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Qatar, where a controversial goal in the last minutes of the game changed their fortunes completely. India failed to be among the 48 teams to have qualified for the main event in 2026, and therefore, the possibility of India being in the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw is negligible.

Can India Qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026?

If you are wondering, ‘Can India qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026?’, the answer is no. The Blue Tigers finished third in their group stages and were ineligible to progress into the further rounds of the Asian World Cup qualification.

Where to watch FIFA World Cup draw India?

To all the Indian fans, don't be downhearted by the elimination of our nation from the 2026 World Cup. You can still cheer and support your favourite players at football's biggest stage. For fans curious about, ‘Where to watch FIFA World Cup draw India?’, here's your answer. You can watch the live stream of the draw for free on the FIFA official app and website, along with their official YouTube channel.