Indian football team forward Manvir Singh credited his teammates after scoring the winning goal against Kuwait in their opening game of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

India secured a hard-fought victory away from home, edging Kuwait by a solitary goal. Singh broke the deadlock in the 74th minute, making a darting run into the box and expertly tucking his shot into the far corner. Following the goal, the Blue Tigers defended resolutely to ensure a positive start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Singh, who delivered a tireless performance on the right flank against Kuwait, acknowledged the collective effort of the entire team for the result.

“I’m really happy that I got the goal against Kuwait, but I must thank my teammates for it. It’s all because of everyone’s hard work,” he said in an interview with the-aiff.com, expressing his gratitude.

“I am lucky to score in a big match like this. Really looking forward to score more in the coming matches,” he added.

Despite playing away from home, India experienced tremendous support at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, with the crowd passionately cheering them on. India head coach Igor Stimac also noted the overwhelming support, suggesting it felt like playing at home.

Singh echoed these sentiments and expressed his anticipation for the next match, saying, “Amazing start to our WCQ campaign. Heartfelt gratitude to all the supporters; you were brilliant. Onto Kalinga Now,” in a post on Instagram.

Looking ahead, India are set to face Qatar at home at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, on Tuesday.