India head coach Igor Stimac has said that he will step down from his post if India fail to reach Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers. The Blue Tigers face Afghanistan in Guwahati in a must win game, which will also play an important role in helping them qualify directly for the 2027 Asian Cup.
“If I don’t take India to the third round I will leave, with my pride, with my honour on everything that was done here in the five years of work. I will leave my position to someone else,” Stimac told reporters on the eve of India’s home leg match against Afghanistan here.
Igor Stimac open to leaving India if WC Qualification Doesn’t Happen
The head coach has helped India level up among their rivals, and also enter the top 100 in FIFA rankings, albeit for a short time. He has regularly cited the need for longer training camps with the national team, as he has only received a week or two at best on most occasions.
Moreover, he has also lamented the fact ISL clubs barely play Indian strikers, apart from Sunil Chhetri. As a result, the national team has been plagued by finishing problems, where they can’t take their chances in tense situations.
But in spite of these problems, Stimac has done a remarkable job to guide the team to the AFC Asian Cup this past year. He has also won the Intercontinental Cup and SAFF Championship with the Blues, adding to his impressive work over the past five years.
