FIFA World Cup qualifiers: Qatar's illegal goal crushes India's World Cup dreams

The Indian men's football team was on the brink of securing a spot in the next round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers from Group A—until a fateful turn in the 73rd minute of Tuesday’s game. Lallianzuala Chhangte had placed India in the lead with a goal in the 37th minute, setting them on course for a rare away victory over Qatar. But then, the tide turned dramatically.

What should have been a routine Qatari free-kick turned controversial as the ball, which had rolled out of play, was brought back by Alhashmi Mohialdin, allowing Youssef Aymen to tap it into the net. The goal, clearly illegal, sparked immediate protests from the Indian side.

Despite the uproar, the linesmen and referees on the field failed to catch the infraction. And with no Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in place, the decision could not be reversed and the goal stood.


The contentious goal was followed by Ahmed Al-Rawi's stunning curler in the 85th minute, sealing the match in Qatar's favour.

As a result of this defeat and Kuwait's concurrent victory over Afghanistan, Qatar and Kuwait advanced to the next round, leaving India third in the group, narrowly ahead of Afghanistan on goal difference.

Indian fans expressed their outrage on social media, decrying the lack of sportsmanship from the Qatari side and criticising the officiating. The hashtag #Shame trended on X (formerly Twitter), capturing the fans' frustration over the missed call and its consequences.

This loss not only crushed India’s hopes for the World Cup, but also their chance for a direct entry into the AFC Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia. Now, the Blue Tigers must navigate through the third round of Asian Cup qualifiers to secure a place in the tournament.