Credit: Twitter
The head coach of India’s men’s national football team Igor Stimac has extended his contract until 2026. The development was shared and confirmed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced on Thursday. Stimac’s new contract includes the option of further extensions by two years if the Blue Tigers qualify for the next round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
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Under Stimac, the Blue Tigers won three tournaments over the past year, including the Tri-Nation Series in March, the Intercontinental Cup in June, and the SAFF Championship in July. India also held the world's 70th-ranked Iraq to a 2-2 draw during the recent King's Cup game held in Thailand.
Addressing his extension after the Asian Games 2023 loss against Saudi Arabia, Stimac stated, “I will decide in the next 48 hours sitting down with the right people. They know what I’m looking for. It’s not about money. It’s about whether are we capable of providing time for the national team to be together and work together. If we want to go higher, I need time to work with my players. I cannot do it without time provided to work with them.”
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Further talking about the Indian team, the Blue Tigers will feature in the Merdeka Cup, a four-team tournament with hosts Malaysia, Palestine, and Tajikistan from October 13. Malaysia currently is 134th rank globally, while Tajikistan is placed 110th, and Palestine 97th in the world. After the Merdeka Cup, India will start its 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as they take on the likes of Qatar, Kuwait and either Mongolia or Afghanistan.
