Category: Football

The world’s fastest man is coming to India, and this time, it’s not to race down the track. Usain Bolt, the eight-time Olympic gold medalist, world record holder, and one of the greatest athletes of all time, will headline PUMA’s two-day sporting spectacle in Mumbai on October 1. In a first-of-its-kind event, the Jamaican sprint…

The India U17 men’s national team sent a strong message to the rest of the competition as they began their SAFF U17 Championship title defence in resounding fashion, thrashing Maldives 6–0 in their Group B opener at the Racecourse International Stadium on Tuesday evening. Goals came from all directions – Dallalmuon Gangte struck twice, while…

The AFC Champions League 2 returns this week with a much-anticipated clash at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, where Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) host Turkmenistan’s Ahal FK. Scheduled for September 16, the match marks not just the start of Group C but also the beginning of a new chapter for Mohun Bagan, who step…

The Indian U17 football team, known fondly as the Blue Colts, is ready to begin their title defence at the SAFF U17 Championship 2025, which kicks off in Sri Lanka from 15 to 27 September. India enters the tournament as the undisputed powerhouse of South Asian youth football, having clinched their sixth title in 2024…

The announcement of India’s 30-player probables squad for the October FIFA window has stirred fresh debate about the future of the national team. At the heart of it lies one critical storyline: the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers against Singapore, a tie that may define not just India’s immediate prospects but also the long-term trajectory…

East Bengal FC’s women’s team has scripted history by qualifying for the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025-26 group stage, marking a watershed moment for Indian women’s club football. Fresh from winning the 2024-25 Indian Women’s League (IWL), the team now steps into uncharted territory Asia’s premier women’s club competition. Placed in Group B, East Bengal…

The coming months mark a pivotal chapter for Indian youth football as the India U-17 men’s national team prepares for back-to-back assignments: the SAFF U17 Championship 2025 in Sri Lanka and the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Ahmedabad. Together, these tournaments will shape not only the immediate fortunes of the squad but also…

The script had promised history. India’s U23 football team arrived in Doha with the belief that this could finally be the campaign that would take them into the AFC U23 Asian Cup main draw for the very first time. They fought bravely, produced moments of brilliance, and finished with their biggest-ever win at this level….

The Indian U23 men’s football team, popularly known as the Blue Colts, closed their AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign in style with a commanding 6-0 victory over Brunei. The result was a showcase of attacking flair, with Vibin Mohanan scoring a hat-trick, Mohammed Aimen adding a late brace, and Ayush Chhetri chipping in with…

The Indian men’s football team, under the guidance of new head coach Khalid Jamil, scripted history at the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, co-hosted by Tajikistan and Uzbekistan between August 29 and September 8. Invited as a late replacement for Malaysia, India not only held their own but emerged with a bronze medal, their first podium…

India ended a 31-year drought against Oman with a dramatic penalty shootout victory to clinch the bronze medal at the CAFA Nations Cup 2025. The Blue Tigers, who had beaten Oman only once in 11 previous meetings, showed immense resilience after falling behind, equalising late through Udanta Singh, and finally relying on captain Gurpreet Singh…

When India step onto the pitch against Oman in the CAFA Nations Cup third-place playoff, it will be more than just a contest for bronze. For the Blue Tigers, this match represents an opportunity to break a three-decade-long winless streak against Oman and secure a historic podium finish in their debut tournament. For Oman, a…

The India U23 football team produced a fighting display in Doha on Saturday night before going down 1–2 to hosts Qatar in their second Group H match of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers 2025. It was a match that showcased the promise of this young Indian side under coach Naushad Moosa, even though a…

India U23’s brave fight against Qatar ended in a narrow 1-2 defeat in Doha on Saturday, leaving Naushad Moosa’s side with three points from two games in Group H in AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Despite the setback, qualification is still possible but it will take a combination of a big win against Brunei and…

The Indian men’s football team were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw against Afghanistan in their final group stage encounter at the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, played at the Hisor Central Stadium on Thursday evening. Despite dominating long phases of the match and creating multiple chances, India failed to find the finishing touch. Their…

The India U23 men’s football team made a dream start to their AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign, defeating Bahrain 2–0 in Doha. Goals from Muhammed Suhail in the first half and substitute Shivaldo Chingangbam deep into stoppage time sealed a statement victory for the Blue Colts, who displayed grit, discipline, and attacking intent from…

The Hisor Central Stadium in Tajikistan is set to host one of the most crucial fixtures of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 as India face Afghanistan on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 17:30 IST. While at first glance this might appear to be just another group stage contest, the reality is far more intense: it…

Indian football has long been caught between governance disputes, commercial uncertainty, and the constant shadow of international scrutiny. In August 2025, the Supreme Court of India issued a landmark order that may well define the sport’s future in the country. By addressing both the immediate existential crisis and the structural challenges that have plagued the…

The countdown has begun for India’s U23 men’s national football team as they prepare for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers, a campaign that could shape the trajectory of Indian football’s next generation. Drawn in Group H alongside Bahrain, hosts Qatar, and Brunei Darussalam, the challenge is formidable. Yet, despite the odds, there remains…

Indian football is in the midst of one of the most turbulent periods in its history. The All India Football Federation (AIFF), the body responsible for running the sport in the country, is grappling with a multi-dimensional crisis that spans governance, commercial stability, and international credibility. What began as a constitutional dispute in the Supreme…

The All India Football Federation’s recent appointment of an entirely homegrown coaching staff could not have found a more fitting vindication than Indian Football’s spirited 2–1 victory over Tajikistan in the CAFA Nations Cup. After years of inconsistent results and over a decade of relying on foreign managers, the Blue Tigers have entered a new…

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…

In international football, the first match under a new coach often carries more weight than the scoreline suggests. It is a statement of intent, a tactical sketch of what might follow, and at times, an early warning of systemic flaws. For Indian football, the past six years have seen three defining debuts Igor Štimac’s 3–1…

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…