Former Indian national football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia said India's performance during the group stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 [1] qualifiers has been average.

Bhutia's assessment comes as the team navigates the high-stakes qualification process for the upcoming tournament. His critique highlights the gap between India's current form and the level required to compete consistently on the global stage.

Bhutia said the prospects of other nations are notable as the tournament moves toward the knockout stages. He specifically addressed the form of Portugal and Croatia, noting that while Portugal remains a contender, their play has not yet reflected that status.

The conversation touched upon the structure of the competition, including the Round of 32, which involves 32 teams [2]. Bhutia's analysis suggests that for nations like India to advance, a shift from average performance to a more dominant tactical approach is necessary.

Bhutia said Portugal is definitely a contender despite the lack of a dominant showing so far. He weighed the strengths of the Portuguese squad against the resilience typically shown by Croatia in deep tournament runs.

The former captain's remarks emphasize the difficulty of the qualification path for Asian teams. By labeling the current output as average, he said the national team has not yet reached its full potential in the 2026 cycle [1].

“India’s performance in the World Cup group stage has been average”

Bhutia's critique reflects a growing demand for higher standards within Indian football as the nation attempts to qualify for its first World Cup. By comparing India's 'average' form against the erratic but high-ceiling performance of elite teams like Portugal, he underscores the technical and mental gap that the Indian national team must bridge to move beyond the group stages of international competition.