Exclusive/ ‘India Will Definitely Qualify For FIFA WC’: Mehtab Singh Lays Road Map For Future Of National Team

After a disappointing FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, Indian National Team has gone through some big changes in 2024 with retirement of captain and legend Sunil Chhetri , and departure of he coach Igor Stimac.

Star Indian footballer and defender Mehtab Singh in a recent interview with Republic World, reflected on a disappointing year for National Team and asked for patience from fans as he laid out ro map of success for India. 

apting to changes in National Team 

fallout of a disappointing FIFA World Cup qualifiers campaign saw departure of Indian National Team coach Igor Stimac and arrival of FC Goa manager Manolo Marquez. Indian Football team is going through seismic changes and with retirement of Sunil Chhetri national team is in search for its next reliable goal scorer. 

Mehtab Singh in interview touched upon se changes and said that apting to se changes takes time. 

“re are a lot of changes in National Team, coach has also changed. Things will take time to settle down. It's about taking one game at a time, we can't change it all in one day. We would have to stay patient with process. We'll slowly settle into new coach's playing style,” Mehtab Singh told Republic World. 

 “Every player takes time to apt to changes. Whenever we play for National Team, we only have one goal, to improve India's ranking. To do well in qualifiers, and one day qualify for World Cup. That's our mindset” - Mehtab Singh

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‘We will qualify for World Cup’ - Mehtab Singh 

Given expansion in FIFA World Cup from 2026 and new qualifying format, this was eyed as best chance for Indian Football Team to finally qualify for World Cup. 

But when India failed in ir objective, fans were left disappointed with team's efforts. Given all controversy and question marks surrounding Indian Football, Mehtab Singh has urged fans to be patient and stay positive.  

“I only have one message for fans. Everything takes time. We can't change past, what's happened has happened. We have to look forward now, we have to stay positive and work on how we can do things better going forward. We request fans to support us as much as y can. As things are changing, team will also change. If more people turn up and support, players will also feel that if fans our turning up we want to make m happy," said Mehtab Singh. 

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Mehtab Singh furr vowed that India will be in a very good position going forward and will definitely qualify for World Cup. 

"We want to show what India is capable of. We are sure that we'll be in a very good position very soon and one day Indian team will definitely qualify for World Cup,” Mehtab Singh told Republic World.