Category: Football

Women’s football in Asia has entered a transformative phase, and at the heart of this evolution lies the AFC Women Champions League (AWCL). Launched in the 2024–25 season, the competition has quickly established itself as the continent’s premier stage for women’s club football, providing a professional platform for domestic champions to showcase their strength and…

In Hisor on Monday evening, India learned once again the unforgiving margins of top-level Asian football. Facing Iran, Asia’s 20th-ranked side and a regular at the FIFA World Cup, Khalid Jamil’s men defended valiantly for long stretches but eventually succumbed to sustained pressure, going down 0–3 in their CAFA Nations Cup 2025 clash. The scoreline,…

East Bengal FC has long been synonymous with Indian football, its men’s team woven into the country’s sporting identity through decades of fierce rivalries and continental appearances. But on August 31, 2025, the women’s side etched their own name into history. By qualifying for the group stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL), they…

When India line up against Iran for India vs Iran in their second group match at the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, the contrast between the two teams could not be starker. One is a continental heavyweight, a regular at World Cups, carrying the weight of expectation. The other is an emerging side in transition, looking…

The Indian men’s football team began a new chapter under Khalid Jamil with a landmark 2–1 win over Tajikistan in Dushanbe at the CAFA Nations Cup 2025. It was India’s first victory against the Central Asian side in 17 years and their first-ever away win on Tajik soil. For Jamil, taking charge of the national…

A new chapter begins for Indian football tonight as the Blue Tigers step onto the pitch for India vs Tajikistan at the Hisor Central Stadium in Tajikistan, facing the hosts in their opening match of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025. It is India’s first appearance at the eight-nation tournament, and with Khalid Jamil making his…

Indian football stands on the brink of an unprecedented collapse. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been handed an ultimatum by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC): get its revised constitution ratified by October 30, 2025, or face suspension. The consequences of non-compliance would be devastating national teams barred from international competition, Indian…

On a humid Monday evening in Phnom Penh, history was made. East Bengal FC’s women’s team, fresh off their Indian Women’s League (IWL) title, announced themselves on Asia’s biggest stage with a gritty 1–0 win against Phnom Penh Crown FC in the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025–26 Preliminary Stage Group E. The victory, secured by…

On a humid Yangon evening in August 2025, amidst deafening chants and the glare of stadium floodlights, India’s under-20 women’s team scripted history. After a barren stretch of 19 years, the Young Tigresses roared back into continental relevance, qualifying unbeaten for the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026. It was not just qualification it was…

The Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) rejection of Bengaluru’s Sree Kanteerava Stadium as the host venue for India’s crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Singapore has stirred deep concerns within Indian football circles. Far from being an isolated incident, this decision exposes chronic shortcomings in India’s venue management systems, infrastructure planning, and governance. While the…

Lionel Messi’s long-awaited return to India has now taken definitive shape not once, but twice in the closing months of 2025. In a landmark development for Indian sport and culture, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has confirmed a FIFA friendly in Kerala this November, while a separate “GOAT Tour of India 2025” will follow in…

Indian football stands at a crossroads. On August 22, 2025, the Supreme Court of India stepped into the escalating standoff between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), directing both parties to resume negotiations on the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA). The case has been adjourned to August…

The Indian U17 women’s football team got their SAFF U17 Women Championship 2025 campaign off to a flying start with a comprehensive 7-0 victory over Nepal at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan, on Wednesday, August 20. The result not only marked a dream start for the Young Tigresses but also underlined their intent to…

When Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) step out for their first group stage match of the AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) 2025/26, they will carry both the pride of Kolkata and the weight of a stinging memory from last season. Twelve months ago, the Mariners’ campaign ended in controversy disqualification after refusing to travel to…

When the draw for the AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) 2025/26 was announced, one pairing caught the imagination FC Goa vs Al Nassr. For fans, the prospect of the Indian club facing Cristiano Ronaldo’s team was a dream headline. Reality struck soon after: Ronaldo, expected to skip all away games in the competition, will not…

Indian football is on the brink of a new era. For the first time in history, two Indian clubs Mohun Bagan Super Giant and FC Goa will compete simultaneously in the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two), Asia’s restructured second-tier continental club competition. This landmark achievement signals the sport’s growing maturity…

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has officially appointed Khalid Jamil as the head coach of the Indian Senior Men’s National Football Team on a two-year contract, with an option to extend for another year. The move marks a historic shift in Indian football Jamil is the first Indian to take permanent charge of the…

India’s Historic Return: Young Tigresses End 20-Year Wait to Qualify for the 2026 AFC U20 Women Asian Cup Indian women’s football is celebrating a landmark moment. The U20 Women’s National Team, known fondly as the Young Tigresses, has secured qualification for the 2026 AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup, ending a 20-year absence from Asia’s premier…

The India U20 women national team delivered a resounding statement of intent at the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Thailand 2026 Qualifiers, hammering Turkmenistan 7-0 in a commanding performance at Yangon’s Thuwunna Stadium. The thumping win propelled the Young Tigresses to the top of Group D, setting the stage for a high-stakes finale against hosts…

In a defining chapter of Indian football history, the Blue Tigresses India’s women’s national football team have climbed seven places in the latest FIFA Rankings, moving from 70th to 63rd as of August 7, 2025. More than just a statistical rise, this leap symbolizes the culmination of tireless development efforts, strategic planning, and a new…

The Indian U20 Women’s Football Team kicked off their AFC 2026 U20 Women Asia Cup Qualifiers campaign with a hard-fought 0–0 draw against Indonesia at the Thuwunna Stadium on Wednesday. Despite enjoying long spells of possession and creating more chances, the Young Tigresses were unable to find the back of the net and had to…

In a major boost to India’s growing football ecosystem, Ahmedabad’s EKA Arena by TransStadia has been confirmed as one of the seven host venues for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers, to be held from November 22 to 30, 2025. This prestigious youth competition, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), is…

A quiet revolution in Indian football began this month, not under stadium floodlights or in a roaring final, but in the heart of Hyderabad, where the city inaugurated a world-class FIFA Talent Academy India’s first dedicated solely to girls. More than a training center, this academy signals a bold pivot in how the country sees,…

Indian football finds itself at a defining crossroads. From August 2024 to August 2025, the sport has endured a bruising cycle marked by senior team regression, flickers of youth promise, and a historic, if risky, pivot: appointing Khalid Jamil as head coach of the men’s national team. This year has forced the All India Football…

In a season of transition and urgency, the Indian men’s football team is set to embark on an unexpected but potentially transformative journey at the CAFA Nations Cup 2025. Invited to replace Malaysia after its withdrawal, India’s participation in this Central Asian tournament jointly hosted by Uzbekistan and Tajikistan from August 31 to September 8,…

The draw for the AFC Women Asian Cup 2026, set to take place in Australia, brought intriguing matchups for Group C: powerhouse Japan (FIFA #7), rising Vietnam (#37), competitive Chinese Taipei (#42), and India (#70). On paper, it looks like a dream draw for India, avoiding some Asian heavyweights like China PR and Korea Republic. But…

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has closed applications for the next head coach of the Indian national football men team, attracting 170 applicants from across the world. This search comes at a turbulent moment for Indian football a period defined by disappointing results, a fall in FIFA rankings, and growing questions about the structural…

In a ruling that has sent shockwaves through Indian football, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on July 18, 2025, declared Inter Kashi FC as the rightful champions of the I-League 2024–25 season. The decision comes after months of legal wrangling, contested points tables, and questions over player eligibility that had clouded one of…

In a significant move aimed at strengthening the Indian Women Football Team ahead of next year’s AFC Women Asian Cup in Australia, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced a comprehensive roadmap on Friday, July 11, 2025. The plan was finalized during a key meeting chaired by AIFF President Shri Kalyan Chaubey, and attended by…

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has finally responded with encouraging news: the India U20 Women Football National Team will travel to Tashkent, Uzbekistan for two crucial international friendlies on July 13 and 16, ahead of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers. These matches mark a much-needed return to competitive action for the…

The month of August 2025 will be a pivotal one for Indian women football both at the youth and senior club level. On one hand, the India U20 women’s national team will begin their campaign in the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, while on the other, East Bengal FC’s women’s team will represent…

From Redemption to Resurgence: How the Indian Women’s Team Qualified for the AFC Women Asian Cup 2026 In a landmark moment for Indian football, the Indian Women’s National Team affectionately known as the Blue Tigresses secured qualification for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026, marking a pivotal breakthrough in their history. This achievement is…

India’s 2-1 win over Thailand doesn’t just secure Asian Cup 2026 qualification it changes the narrative of women’s football in Asia. In one of the most significant results in recent AFC Women’s football history, the Indian Women’s National Football Team scripted a memorable 2-1 win over Thailand in Group B of the AFC Women’s Asian…

The stage is set. After three dominant performances in Group B of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers, the Indian women’s football team the Blue Tigresses now face their biggest test. Their final group game on July 5 against host nation Thailand will decide who secures the coveted spot at the continental showpiece. It’s…

Just eleven months after being handed one of Indian football’s most scrutinized roles, Manolo Marquez is no longer the head coach of the Indian national team. In a decision that surprised few but disappointed many, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Marquez announced a mutual parting of ways, effective immediately. While the federation’s statement…

India’s women’s football team continued their dominant run at the AFC Qualifiers Women’s Asian Cup 2026, beating Timor-Leste 4–0 in their second group match at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai. After their record-breaking 13–0 victory over Mongolia, the Blue Tigresses followed it up with another composed, clinical performance, making it two wins from…

Fresh off a commanding 13-0 win against Mongolia, the Indian women’s football team, known as the Blue Tigresses, return to action today in their second match of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers against Timor-Leste. The fixture kicks off at 2:30 PM IST (4 PM local time) at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang…

The India U23 football team concluded their crucial Central Asia tour in Tajikistan with mixed results, drawing one and losing one across two international friendlies. More importantly, the tour spanning from June 16 to 21, 2025 offered a timely test and vital insights for head coach Naushad Moosa and his youthful squad as they prepare…

The Indian women’s football team kicked off their AFC Women Asian Cup 2026 qualification campaign with a record-breaking performance, dismantling Mongolia 13-0 in their opening Group B encounter. This emphatic win marks India’s biggest-ever margin of victory in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup (including qualifiers), eclipsing their previous 10-0 triumphs over Guam in 1997 and…

The India U23 Football men’s team wrapped up their Tajikistan tour with a hard-fought 0-0 draw against the Kyrgyz Republic at the Hisor Central Stadium on Saturday. While the final result leaves room for disappointment, the performance offered encouraging signs, particularly in terms of defensive shape, teamwork, and chance creation. However, a recurring issue the…

The Indian women’s national football team, affectionately known as the Blue Tigresses, is set to begin a crucial chapter in their journey as they head into the AFC Women Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers. Led by newly appointed head coach Crispin Chettri, the squad departed for Thailand earlier this week, where they will compete in Group…

In a development that has sent shockwaves through Indian football, the Indian Super League (ISL) the country’s top-tier football competition has been conspicuously left out of the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) competitions calendar for the 2025–26 season. ISL misses out on the calendar While other domestic tournaments like the I-League, IWL, Durand Cup, and…

India U23’s spirited display ended in a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat against Tajikistan U23 in an international friendly in Tashkent. Summary : India U-23 put in a spirited display but fell 3-2 to Tajikistan in a friendly, conceding twice in stoppage time after leading 2-1. Suhail Bhat and Parthib Gogoi scored for India, who looked sharp…