In 2026, a peculiar and somewhat painful irony has taken hold of Indian football.
If you walk into the All India Football Federation (AIFF) headquarters today, you’ll find two very different atmospheres. One side of the hallway is buzzing with the momentum of the “Blue Tigresses,” who recently secured a historic qualification for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. On the other side, the mood is somber, as the men’s national team the “Blue Tigers” flounder at a dismal 141st in the FIFA rankings, their lowest point in a decade.
The divide has never been more visible. While the men’s game is grappling with structural survival and a leadership vacuum, the women’s team is quietly proving that with far fewer resources, they can deliver far greater results.
The Women: Rising Against the Current
The statistics tell a story of sheer grit. In early 2026, the Indian women’s team ended a 23-year drought by qualifying for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup on merit. They didn’t just “participate”; they dominated their qualifying group, showing a level of tactical discipline that has often eluded their male counterparts.
Just last week, the U-19 women’s team clinched the SAFF Championship in Pokhara, thumping Bangladesh 4-0 in the final. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement of intent. These “Young Tigresses” were actually an U-17 squad playing up an age group a strategic move by coach Joakim Alexandersson to prepare them for the continental stage.
Why the Women are Winning
- Tactical Cohesion: Unlike the senior men, the women’s team has maintained a consistent core. They play for the badge, often enduring long national camps in places like Bengaluru with minimal fanfare.
- Youth Pipeline: The AIFF’s gamble on youth is paying off. By sending younger players into senior-level regional tournaments, they are building a “match-ready” generation that doesn’t freeze under the floodlights.
- Mental Resilience: Despite the Indian Women’s League (IWL) still struggling for the same commercial clout as the men’s ISL, the players have shown a hunger that feels more “human” and less “corporate.”
The Men: A Sinking Ship in a Truncated Sea
Contrast this with the men’s national team. The year 2025 was a disaster, and 2026 isn’t looking much better. After the exits of Igor Štimac and Manolo Márquez, the team has slipped into a state of “holding operation.” Under current coach Khalid Jamil, the team is struggling to find an identity in a post-Sunil Chhetri era.
The Indian Super League (ISL), once the shining beacon of Indian football, is currently in a state of “survival mode.” Due to the expiry of major commercial rights agreements, the 2026 season has been abridged. We are seeing a league that is literally fighting to stay alive, with talks of centralized venues and reduced fixtures just to cut costs.
The Men’s Crisis Points
- Ranking Freefall: Dropping to 142nd in late 2025 was a wake-up call that nobody answered. In February 2026, they sit at 141st a marginal “gain” that feels more like stagnation.
- Structural Uncertainty: Legend Bhaichung Bhutia recently pointed out that the current setup is more about “revival through survival.” Clubs are asking players to take pay cuts, and the high-budget expectations of the early ISL years have crashed into reality.
- The Asian Games Blow: Because the men’s U-23 team failed to qualify for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup, they are ineligible for the 2026 Asian Games. Meanwhile, the senior women’s team qualified with ease.
It’s a bizarre sight. The men’s team has the money, the prime-time TV slots, and the historical legacy, yet they are currently the “underachievers.” The women’s team has the results, the trophies, and the upward trajectory, yet they still play in the shadows of the men’s failures.
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This sentiment is echoed by fans on social media who are increasingly turning their attention to the Blue Tigresses. In March 2026, the women will face giants like Japan and Vietnam in the Asian Cup. Even if they don’t win, the very fact that they are on that pitch while the men’s team sits out the major continental dates speaks volumes.
If the current trend continues, the AIFF will face a reckoning. Can they continue to pour the lion’s share of funding into a men’s program that is sinking in the rankings, while the women’s program brings home SAFF trophies and Asian Cup appearances on a fraction of the budget?
For the Indian football fan, 2026 is a year of split personalities. You celebrate the women’s 4-0 drubbing of regional rivals, and then you sigh at the men’s 141st ranking. The “Blue Tigers” need to look at the “Blue Tigresses” not as a secondary program, but as a blueprint for how to play with heart when the system around you is crumbling.
