Indian football team set to leave for Qatar on May 19 for World Cup Qualifiers

by Arjun Bangde May 17, 2021

Qatar accepted the AIFF’s request to allow its players to train and practice in Qatar ahead of their 2022 World Cup qualification matches. The Blue Tigers will leave for Qatar on May 19 and start practising right away as Qatar has been kind to waive off the ten-day quarantine.

“We are planning to fly the team on May 19 evening. There will be no quarantine (of the players), and they will be in a bio-bubble,” AIFF general secretary Kushal Das told PTI on Saturday.

He said the players will assemble in New Delhi, and they will be tested for COVID-19 before their departure to Qatar. Qatar was picked to host the remaining group E matches by AFC because it may be the safest choice amid the ongoing pandemic.

The Indian Football team will have a camp of nearly 14 days in a bio-bubble before they face the home side of Qatar on June 3. India is already out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup berth as they stand 4th in their group with 3 points in 5 games. But if the Indian side manages to win their remaining three games, they can finish 3rd and gain a direct spot in the third round of the Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers.

India will play against three opponents, Qatar on June 3, Bangladesh on June 7 and Afghanistan on June 15.

A national camp was also planned in the month of May in Kolkata under the supervision of head coach Igor Stimac, but the increasing number of Coronavirus cases hampered AIFF’s plans. We hope everything goes well and the Blue Tigers can make a place in Asian Cup 2023 qualifiers.

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