Igor Stimac's years of work are paying off as India takes on Qatar in FIFA World Cup qualifying, according to Rahul Bheke.

 India defeated Kuwait 1-0 to win its first FIFA World Cup qualifying match on foreign soil in 22 years, under head coach Igor Stimac.

                       India's Rahul Bheke challenges Kuwait for the ball during the game. 

Football damage are an ordinary sport. They also have terrible effects on teams' performance.

The center back for the Indian national team, Anwar Ali of Mohun Bagan Super Giants, suffered an ankle injury during an AFC Cup match last month, and had to be stretchered off the field. This meant that the Blue Tigers would be without him for the upcoming round of FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying.

Because of his prowess in the back line, head coach Igor Stimac turned to Rahul Bheke, the captain of Mumbai City FC, who goes by the nickname "Bhekenbauer," after the legendary German defender Franz Beckenbauer.

India defeated Kuwait 1-0, keeping a clean sheet and earning their first World Cup qualifying victory away from home in 22 years thanks in part to Bheke's clever defense strategy.

READ | IND 1-0 KWT, FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualification: Blue Tigers win three points thanks to Manvir's lone goal

Bheke thinks that head coach Stimac's advice—who was a center-back on Croatia's third-place finish at the 1998 FIFA World Cup—has contributed to his success.

Because he is a defender himself, he keeps giving us instructions on where to position ourselves and how to make choices. Alongside him is Mahesh (Gawli) sir, who has also served as a defender. Thus, Mahesh sir put a lot of effort into strengthening our defense," Bheke said.

Athletictar.

Stimac was added to the national team in 2019, but it took him two years to win a medal.

But since then, his graph has only gotten higher. In 2023, he won three trophies—the SAFF Championship, the Intercontinental Cup, and the Tri-Nations Series—and made the under-23 men's team advance to the round of 16 of the Asian Games for the first time in thirteen years.

Nations Series—and made the under-23 men's team advance to the round of 16 of the Asian Games for the first time in thirteen years.