FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2022 Asia Group E Points Table and Team Standings: India's chances of making it through to the next round of 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers were further diminished after another disappointing 1-1 draw against Afghanistan in their fourth match of the WC Asian Qualifiers.  Blue Tigers could manage just one point for their lack-lustrous performance. For the second time in successive matches, India saved the blushes with a last-minute equaliser to salvage a point and still be in contention of at least reaching the next round for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. Super substitute Seiminlen Doungel levelled the scores for India in the third minute of added time after Zelfy Nazary had put the Afghans ahead under freezing temperatures in Tajikistan that almost proved to be the winner. The draw - India's third in four Group E matches in the WC Qualifiers for 2022 World Cup - added to the 1-2 defeat against Oman kept India in the fourth position among five teams in Group E. Check out the points table and team details of Group E. Super Sub Seiminlen Doungel Scores Late to Save India The Blushes Against Afghanistan.

India have been placed in Group E of the preliminary stage for the 2022 World Cup Asian Qualifiers, alongside World Cup hosts Qatar, Oman, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Qatar are the defending Asian champions and are also the highest-ranked team in Group E. The Middle-East nation are ranked 62nd in the latest FIFA World Rankings. Oman are the second best and are placed in the 84th place, while India are ranked 104. The Blue Tigers dropped places – they entered the top 100 in 2018 – owing to their recent poor performances in the recently concluded 2019 Asia Cup and the World Cup qualifiers. Bangladesh – placed at 187 – are the lowest-ranked side in Group E, while Afghanistan are ranked 146th in the rankings. 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers: India Clubbed With Qatar, Oman, Afghanistan, Bangladesh in Group E.

Ranking Team MP W D L GF GA GD PTS
1 Qatar 4 3 1 0 10 1 9 10
2 Oman 4 3 0 1 10 4 6 9
3 Afghanistan 4 1 1 2 2 10 -8 4
4 India 4 0 3 1 3 4 -1 3
5 Bangladesh 4 0 1 3 2 8 -6 1

The qualifying race for the 2022 World Cup began on June 6 earlier this year. In the first or preliminary round, the lowest-ranked Asian teams in the FIFA rankings take part while the top-ranked teams start their qualifiers by 2021, a year before the World Cup eventually takes place. Meanwhile, India are ranked 18th in Asia, which is led by Iran and followed by heavyweights Japan, South Korea and Australia. As many four teams can directly qualify for the World Cup directly from the qualifiers, while once team will be given the opportunity to play the inter-confederation playoff spot.

India have started playing the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers as well as the Asian Cup from the second round of AFC’s (Asian Football Confederation) format. In the first round, 12 teams (ranked from 35 to 46) participated with six winners advancing to the second round. A total of 40 teams (ranked from 1 to 40) are taking part in the second round. Teams have been divided into eight teams of five members each. Group winners from each group and four best runner-up will progress to the third round World Cup qualifiers as well as the Asian Cup. Those 12 teams will then be divided into two groups of six teams each. The top two teams from each group will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the two third-placed teams will fight for the one remaining inter-confederation play-offs.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 15, 2019 11:51 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).