Doha: Head coach Carlos Queiroz is expecting a tough challenge from Bhubaneswar, India: Head coach Carlos Queiroz thinks his team will face a formidable opponent in hosts India as Qatar seek their second consecutive victory in Group A of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 in Bhubaneswar, on Tuesday. The defending Asian champions got their campaign off to a roaring start on Thursday, beating Afghanistan 8-1 at Khalifa International Stadium. India, coached by Croatian coach Igor Stimac, also started on the right foot, picking up a 1-0 road win over Kuwait. Although Qatar is the favourite to win the group, Queiroz knows that the Blue Tigers are a formidable opponent when playing in front of their home crowd at Kalinga Stadium. "We are excited about this match, and I realise the difficulty and significance of it for the Indian national team, especially being on their home ground," the Qatar coach said on the eve of the match. "We are evolving daily as a team, having a good opportunity to showcase an excellent image of the squad. Our goal is to be the best on the field, as it gives us more chances to score and win," said Queiroz.