WATCH: Qatar's controversial equalising goal lead elimination of India in AFC World Cup Qualifiers

Qatar hosted India in the final game of the AFC World Cup Qualifiers 2026 at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium. Doha. The Blue Tigers after drawing their last game against Kuwait needed to win the game on Tuesday. Pressing higher up the pitch, they opened the scoring after Lallianzuala Chhangte broke the deadlock in the first half after Brandon Fernandes's miscued shot went into his path for him to put into the net.

That was the first goal from open play in 682 minutes for the Stimac's side. India went into the break keeping a 1-0 lead in the first half. The Blue Tigers did not start the game well as they might have been conceded within the first five minutes of the game. Mehtab Singh denied it as he made a goal-line clearance of a shot from Al-Rawi. The second half who was playing with most of their reserve team brought in some major changes Homam Ahmed and Khaled Ali.

After the two substitutions, the home side got a stronghold of the game. There was a quick equaliser by the best Asian side, but the goal from Youssef Aymen was controversial as the ball was visibly out of the line when it was tracked back to the defender. The referees did not notice that. Mohialdin Alhashmi recovered the ball from behind the line after it had gone out of play and flicked it back to Aymen, as the group toppers were back in the game. 

Here's the video

#IndianFootball rigged

India vs Qatar pic.twitter.com/g0esjvBst6

— Jerry John Varghese (@JerryJohnVargh1) June 11, 2024

Qatar wins with a controversial goal

A few minutes later they scored the winner putting an end to a dream of a possible qualification to the knockout rounds. Al-Rawi's side-footed curler settled perfectly in the bottom corner in the 85th minute of the game. The Blue Tigers needed to draw the game and look into the Kuwait and Afghanistan match also ended in a draw but Kuwait won their final game and qualified as the second team from the group. 

Qatar was the only team in the group stage that had not been beaten and they kept their record intact going into the all-important knockout round. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held in USA, Mexico and Canada, with the top teams fighting for the most coveted trophy of the world.