Category: Football

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…

India U23 Squad Announced for Tajikistan Tour: A Key Step Towards AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 With a sharp eye on preparations for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced a 23-member India U23 men’s squad for a crucial tour of Tajikistan. The Blue Colts, under the…

In a candid and wide-ranging address, All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Kalyan Chaubey laid out his administration’s plans for the future of Indian football while taking direct aim at critics, particularly former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia. The AIFF chief touched upon key issues ranging from the national team’s attacking woes and grassroots development to…

Indian Football Crisis: Is OCI Players Inclusion a Fix, or Is the Problem Much Bigger? The Indian men’s football team, the Blue Tigers, suffered a 1-0 defeat to world No. 153 Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers at the newly built Kai Tak Stadium. A late penalty by Stefan Pereira sealed India’s…

In what should have been a routine outing for Indian football team turned into a night of disbelief, frustration, and collective heartbreak. Ranked 121st in the world, India slumped to a 1-0 defeat against 153rd-ranked Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers at the newly inaugurated Kai Tak Stadium. This defeat isn’t just…

As the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round rolls into its second Matchday, Group C’s most anticipated clash takes center stage: India vs Hong Kong. Both sides are chasing their first win of the campaign after opening draws and are now primed for a crucial contest that could define their qualifying hopes….

In a major boost to Indian football fans—particularly in Kerala—State Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman has reaffirmed that the Argentina national football team along with Lionel Messi to visit Kerala state later this year. The long-speculated and much-hoped-for event appears to be back on track, after several reports had claimed the tour was cancelled. The official…

The India women football team wrapped up a two-match friendly series against higher-ranked Uzbekistan on May 30 and June 1, 2025. Despite narrowly losing both matches by a 1-0 margin, the friendlies served a more critical purpose than just results. They offered the Blue Tigresses valuable competitive exposure and insights into their evolving tactical and…

From Shared Rankings to Separate Paths: How Uzbekistan Reached the FIFA World Cup 2026 While India Stagnates By IndiaSportsHub Uzbekistan has qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 — and it’s not just a victory for Uzbek football, but a clear signal to the rest of Asia. In less than 34 years since gaining independence…

Indian Football Crisis: Time for a Hard Reset Before It’s Too Late India’s 0-2 defeat to Thailand in the recent international friendly wasn’t just another poor result—it was a flashing red warning light for Indian football. Ranked 126th in the world, India looked disjointed, lifeless, and completely out of ideas against a Thai side ranked…

From the Asian Games to the Asian Cup, and from the King’s Cup to the now-defunct Nehru Cup, India’s footballing rivalry with Thailand stretches over six decades. Its again India vs Thailand in a friendly. The two nations first crossed paths at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, where the Blue Tigers triumphed 4-1, a…

The Indian senior women’s football team will take the field today against Uzbekistan in the first of two FIFA International Friendlies, marking a crucial phase in their preparations for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers. Its India vs Uzbekistan. The match will kick off at 4:30 PM IST at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports…

India U23 Draw Tough Group in AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Qatar, Bahrain and Brunei Await the Blue Colts in Doha The journey to the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 begins in earnest for the Indian U23 men’s national football team, as they were drawn into Group H of the qualifiers alongside hosts Qatar,…

When the Sports Ministry unveiled its landmark funding overhaul this week — a 75% increase in allocations, a long-overdue push for professional governance, and an athlete-first model — it felt like a transformative moment for Indian sport, but not for Indian Football. But for those of us who’ve walked muddy touchlines, covered I-League fixtures in…

With FIFA officially confirming the expansion of the Women’s World Cup from 32 to 48 teams starting in 2031, the game has changed for countries like India to play FIFA World Cup The opportunity is clear. Now, it’s about whether India seizes it. The Meteoric Rise of Women’s Football The evolution of women’s football has…

In a country where footballing dreams often take years to crystallize, Singamayum Shami is rewriting the script — quickly, confidently, and with the poise of a player far beyond his years. India sports schedule May 2025 At just 17, the Manipur-born midfielder has already checked off boxes that many players don’t reach in their entire…

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya convened a landmark meeting in New Delhi with representatives from 58 corporate houses and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Considering of inclusion of PIO , OCI Players is one major discussion. The agenda was clear: to transform India’s sports ecosystem in preparation for a potential 2036…

In a bid to correct a longstanding flaw in its developmental pipeline, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is undertaking a strategic overhaul of the India U23 Men’s National Team setup. With a focus on long-term player growth, consistent international exposure, and better results in key competitions, the AIFF has shortlisted 29 players for a…

India were crowned champions of the SAFF U-19 Championship 2025 after a tense 2-1 (4-3 on penalties) win over Bangladesh in the final held at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Itanagar. The match ended 1-1 after regulation time, and the Blue Colts held their nerve in a dramatic penalty shootout to lift the trophy, marking…

The Indian U-19 football team, fondly known as the Blue Colts, secured their place in the final of the SAFF U19 Championship 2025 with a commanding 3-0 win over the Maldives in the semifinal at the Golden Jubilee Stadium on Friday evening. The victory, celebrated with joyous scenes on the pitch, set the stage for…