Head coach Igor Stimac has made it clear that he will resign from his post if the Indian football team fails to reach the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Stimac’s primary focus is on securing qualification to the third round and ensuring a direct entry into the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

India is currently in second place in their group with four points from three games, one point ahead of Kuwait. However, the task of advancing to the third round has become more difficult after a draw in the away leg against Afghanistan, from which they only gained one point.

Stimac, who has been the head coach since 2019, received a contract extension last year that will keep him in charge until June 2026. He expressed his determination to leave his position if India fails to progress.

The coach acknowledged Afghanistan’s strong performance against India and attributed it to several of their players playing in Europe. Stimac emphasized the need for longer preparatory camps for the national squad before major tournaments, citing successful results in the past when longer camps were conducted.

One of the concerns raised by Stimac is the lack of new Indian strikers in the Indian Super League (ISL), with most of the players in that position being foreigners. He highlighted that this scoring problem has been haunting the team for years and stated the importance of Indian players playing in their preferred positions at their clubs.

Stimac also reflected on lessons learned from the disappointing campaign in the AFC Asian Cup, where India lost all three matches. He emphasized the need to minimize mistakes and capitalize on the opposition’s errors.

In conclusion, Stimac’s resignation is contingent on the Indian football team’s performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. The team’s aim is to reach the third round and secure a direct entry into the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, and Stimac has called for longer preparatory camps and the development of new Indian strikers to address ongoing challenges.