FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier, India vs Kuwait highlights: Sunil Chhetri finishes without scoring

In his last appearance for India, the 'captain, leader, legend' Sunil Chhetri couldn't score and neither could India and Kuwait with the match ending 0-0, India's chances of qualification diminishing

The 'captain, leader, legend' of Indian football Sunil Chhetri played the last game in the Indian shirt for one last time as the Blue Tigers drew 0-0 against Kuwait in their Round 2 encounter for the Fifa World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 joint qualification at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Thursday, June 6.

Why is this IND vs KUW football match important?

Apart from it being the farewell game of the third-highest active goal scorer in world football behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, it is an important game for India's road to AFC Asian Cup and Fifa World Cup 2026.
 

India is currently ranked second in Group A of Round 2 behind Qatar. They have four points, as does Afghanistan. Kuwait, on the other hand, has three points. India won against Kuwait away from home and then lost to Qatar at home.

India vs Kuwait: Head-to-Head record in football

Total matches played: 6

India won: 3

Kuwait won: 2

Draw: 1

India vs Kuwait FIFA World Cup Qualifier starting lineups

India starting 11
 

Formation: 4-2-3-1 
 

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Nikhil Poojary, Rahul Bheke, Anwar Ali, Jay Gupta, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Lalrinzuala Chhangte, Sunil Chhetri

Kuwait starting 11

Formation: 4-1-4-1 
 

Sulaiman(GK), Alenezi, Ibrahim, Abdulah, Alharbi, Alrashidi, Aldousari, Abujabarah, Saleh(C), Alsulaiman, Hasan Alenezi

Which TV channels will live telecast the India vs Kuwait football match today?
 

Sports18 will live telecast the India vs Kuwait football match, which is also the last match of Sunil Chhetri, in India.
 

How to watch the live streaming of India vs Kuwait football match in India?
 

Jio Cinema will livestream the India vs Kuwait football match of the FIFA World Cup 2024 qualifier today.

9:21 PM

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier, India vs Kuwait Updates: Sunil Chhetri bids tearful adieu

 

He walks around the ground, all the four corners of the Salt Lake Stadium where he played for both the big clubs the East Bengal and the Mohun Bagan. He thanks the crowd which sports his parents and his wife and then the best among the Indians to have played the beautiful game, bids adieu to it with 94 goals in 151 appearances. 

 

That is it from the game. India has a chance numerically even as they take against the best Asian side Qtar in their last Round 2 game. 

 

9:18 PM

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier, India vs Kuwait LIVE SCORE Updates: It ends in a draw

 

90 Minutes 

 

Full-Time

 

IND 0-0 KUW

 

Brandon is on the ball again with probably the last chance for India and he disappoints big time.  The match eventually ended in a draw 0-0.

 

9:01 PM

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier, India vs Kuwait LIVE SCORE Updates: Yellow card for Edmund

 

90+ Minutes 

 

Second Half

 

IND 0-0 KUW

 

Bout of wrestling played between Edmund, who is the first I-league player to get a chance to play for India in the last five years and Sultan of Kuwait, He gets a yellow card. 

 

8:58 PM

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier, India vs Kuwait LIVE SCORE Updates: 7 minutes added

 

90 Minutes 

 

Second Half

 

IND 0-0 KUW

 

Seven minutes agave been added here and Rahim Ali once again had a great chance, but just could not flick the ball into the goal. 

 

8:48 PM

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier, India vs Kuwait LIVE SCORE Updates: 10 minutes for India to do something

 

80 Minutes 

 

Second Half

 

IND 0-0 KUW

 

India now has only 10 minutes of regulation time to try and score and make their way to the third round where they could get to play top-quality Asian sides and have a go at the World Cup qualification chance as well. 

 

8:42 PM

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier, India vs Kuwait LIVE SCORE Updates: Sigh of relief for India

 

74 Minutes 

 

Second Half

 

IND 0-0 KUW

 

That right there could have been a penalty but the referee was right there where the tackle by Anwar Ali was made inside the D. He did not blow the whistle and that means India could have a sigh of relief. 

 

8:36 PM

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier, India vs Kuwait LIVE SCORE Updates: Period of lull

 

65 Minutes 

 

Second Half

 

IND 0-0 KUW

 

The pace is once again slowing down here just like in the first half of the match. After the initial 20 minutes, a lull and India, being the home team and the one which is down in terms of placing in the group stage, must try and break it with a score. 

 

8:21 PM

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier, India vs Kuwait LIVE SCORE Updates: Free Kick for India

 

55 Minutes 

 

Second Half

 

IND 0-0 KUW

 

Free Kick coming in for India and it is Barandon on the ball. He fails to make a good account of himself. Brandon replaced Sahal Abdul Samad and Rahim Ali Aniruddh Thapa at half-time. 

 

8:19 PM

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier, India vs Kuwait LIVE SCORE Updates: End to End stuff again

 

53 Minutes 

 

Second Half

 

IND 0-0 KUW

 

The game is heating up and it is now end-to-end stuff at the moment, if India is making a chance through Rahim Ali, who came in as a substitute then Kuwait is also making Sandhu work hard in the Indian goal. 

 

8:14 PM

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier, India vs Kuwait LIVE SCORE Updates: Big save from Gurpreet, Rahim Ali misses

 

47 Minutes 

 

Second Half

 

IND 0-0 KUW

 

Gurpreet Singh put in a great save and at the other end, Rahum Ali was one-on-one with the Kuwaiti keeper but just wasn't able to beat him. 

 

8:12 PM

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier, India vs Kuwait LIVE SCORE Updates: Second Half begins

 

46 Minutes 

 

Second Half

 

IND 0-0 KUW

 

The second half begins and India is now attacking right to left. 

 

7:57 PM

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier, India vs Kuwait LIVE SCORE Updates: Stats analysis of first-half

 

45+4 Minutes 

 

Half-Time

 

IND 0-0 KUW

 

Here's what the stats say at the end of the first half. 

 

7:56 PM

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier, India vs Kuwait LIVE SCORE Updates: It's half-time in Kolkata

 

45+4 Minutes 

 

Half-Time

 

IND 0-0 KUW

 

The first half has come to an end in the Sunil Chhetri farewell match. The Indian team looked poised to score on various occasions but missed the chances. They must rectify those mistakes in the second half to make sure that they come out as the winners. 

 

7:51 PM

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier, India vs Kuwait LIVE SCORE Updates: 4 minutes added

 

45 Minutes 

 

First Half 

 

IND 0-0 KUW

 

Four minutes have been added in the first half as injury time. India had a chance with Chhangte from the right-wing, but it was converted into a corner and in the end, it was not even a shot on goal for India. 

 

7:48 PM

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier, India vs Kuwait LIVE SCORE Updates: India dominate proceedings

 

43 Minutes 

 

First Half 

 

IND 0-0 KUW

 

Here's what the numbers say