KUWAIT CITY, Nov 16: The Kuwaiti national football team suffered a defeat at the hands of the Indian team, conceding a lone goal in a match held at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium on Thursday. This match marked the commencement of the joint qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup, where Manvir Singh secured the victory for India with a goal in the 75th minute.

Meanwhile, the Qatar national football team secured a commanding victory over its Afghan counterpart, clinching an impressive 8-1 triumph at Doha's Khalifa International Stadium. This marked the opening match in the initial group stage of the joint qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup finals.

The Qatari national team dominated the first half, netting six goals compared to Afghanistan's lone goal. Al-Moataz Ali, a player for the Qatari team, contributed significantly, scoring four of the six goals. The momentum continued into the second half, with Qatar adding two more goals to seal the match with an 8-1 scoreline in their favor.

Guided by Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, the Qatari team will continue to compete in the first group of the joint qualifiers, alongside the Kuwaiti and Indian teams.