Kuwait vs India Prediction: India won the last game in June

Kuwait will welcome India at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Match Day 1 of the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Round Two. India beat Kuwait on penalties the last time they met in SAFF Championship. Who will come out on top after 90 minutes?

With eight available spots for the expanded World Cup in Asia, Kuwait believes they have a good chance of qualifying for the tournament in less than three years. In 1982, Kuwait made their World Cup debut by drawing 1-1 against Czechoslovakia, but they lost their following matches against France and England, leading to their elimination in the group stage. Despite their early success, Kuwait has struggled to qualify for major tournaments, including the Asian Cup and the World Cup. Currently, they are led by Rui Bento, a former Boavista manager, who has seen improved results during his tenure. However, their upcoming match against India will be crucial as they aim to secure a place in the World Cup. While India has a higher FIFA ranking, Kuwait has a stronger footballing history, and Afghanistan is expected to be the weakest team in their group.

Kameel; Ammar, El Ebrahim, H Al-Enezi, Al Qallaf; S Al Enezi, Hani; Al Faneni, Al Dhaferi, Daham; Al Khaldi

Undoubtedly, the majority of India's passionate cricket fans will be focused on the Cricket World Cup, which means the Blue Tigers' opening qualifying game against Kuwait may go unnoticed. However, under the guidance of former Croatia boss Igor Stimac, India's football team has experienced significant growth, climbing from their lowest-ever position of 173rd to 102nd in FIFA's latest world rankings. This achievement puts them just eight places away from their highest ever ranking in 1996.

With this progress, there is a growing belief that India has a real chance of qualifying for their first ever World Cup. Despite recent defeats to Iraq, Lebanon, and Malaysia that have possibly affected their confidence, India remains the second highest ranked team in Group A. The expansion of the World Cup will provide opportunities for developing nations, and India, with its massive population, should not be overlooked.

If Stimac's side can start the qualifying campaign on a positive note in Kuwait, there is potential for great success, especially after their triumph in the SAFF Championship.

Sandhu; Poojari, Jhingan, Ali, Mishra; Thaunaojam, Thapa; Chhangte, Samad, Kuruniyan; Chhetri

Both countries will view this match as highly significant since it could determine their position in between Qatar and Afghanistan for second place. There is expected to be a tense atmosphere in the game due to their previous meeting in the SAFF Championship final in June. It would not be unexpected to see a similar result this time, with both teams sharing the points. Take a double chance on India as they can give the best bang for your bucks. Expect a highly cautious game from both ends with the total goals being score be below 2.5 goals.