Category: Football

Indian football’s ongoing structural churn took another decisive turn this week as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) rejected Sporting Club Bengaluru’s request to participate in the 2025–26 I-League season. The decision, taken during the Executive Committee meeting on February 12, reinforces the federation’s firm stance on enforcing promotion and relegation even at the cost…

At 41 years and 196 days, Sunil Chhetri rewrote another chapter of Indian football history. When the Bengaluru FC captain came off the bench in the 78th minute against Sporting Club Delhi in the Indian Super League 2025–26 opener, few would have predicted that he was about to set a new benchmark for longevity in…

East Bengal FC made a commanding start to their Indian Super League 2025–26 home campaign, defeating NorthEast United FC 3-0 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. A quick-fire double from Youssef Ezzejjari midway through the second half, followed by an injury-time strike from Miguel Ferreira, ensured the Red and Gold Brigade secured all three points…

The opening week of the Indian Super League 2025–26 season concludes at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) on Monday evening, where East Bengal FC begin their campaign against NorthEast United FC in what promises to be an early test of intent for both sides. Recent meetings between the two clubs have been evenly balanced….

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has confirmed that the 2025–26 season of the Indian Football League (IFL) will commence on February 27, 2026, marking a new chapter for India’s rebranded second-tier competition. Formerly known as the I-League, the IFL enters the upcoming campaign with structural changes aimed at enhancing competitiveness and sustaining interest across…

The India U17 men’s team secured a morale-boosting 4–2 victory over Russian club side FC Spartak Moscow in a closed-door friendly at the Fanatic Tour Serik Sport Center in Antalya, Türkiye, on Sunday. The result marked the Blue Colts’ first win of their ongoing exposure tour, offering timely encouragement ahead of the AFC U-17 Asian…

Bengaluru FC began their Indian Super League 2025-26 campaign with a composed 2–0 victory over Sporting Club Delhi at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Sunday evening. Goals from N. Sivasakthi on the stroke of half-time and a stoppage-time strike from Sunil Chhetri ensured the Blues joined Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Jamshedpur FC as opening-weekend…

Jamshedpur FC opened their Indian Super League 2025–26 campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mohammedan Sporting Club at the JRD Tata Sports Complex on Sunday, riding on an early strike from Madih Talal to secure all three points. In a contest that was settled inside the opening ten minutes, Talal’s ninth-minute effort proved decisive…

Chennaiyin FC have unveiled a 29-member squad for the upcoming Indian Super League, ISL 2025–26 season, signalling continuity in core areas while integrating a set of targeted reinforcements. The Marina Machans will begin their campaign with four consecutive away fixtures, starting against Mumbai City FC on February 19. The squad announcement also confirmed the shirt…

Bengaluru FC laid down a clear marker ahead of the new Indian Super League campaign, addressing the media at their Season Opener Press Conference held at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday. With the league set to begin on February 15 against Sporting Club Delhi, the club used the platform to outline its competitive priorities,…

With the 2025–26 Indian Super League season underway, Sunday brings a compelling double-header as Jamshedpur FC host Mohammedan Sporting Club at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, while Bengaluru FC welcome Sporting Club Delhi to the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. Both fixtures will be streamed live on FanCode and televised on Sony Sports 2, setting the stage…

Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant began their Indian Super League 2025–26 campaign with a composed 2–0 victory over Kerala Blasters FC at a packed Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Saturday. Goals from Jamie Maclaren in the first half and Tom Aldred deep into stoppage time ensured a winning start for Sergio Lobera in his…

Indian football has entered a decisive new chapter with Sony Sports Network officially confirmed as the television broadcaster of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025–26 season. The development signals more than just a broadcast shift it marks a structural reset for the country’s top-flight league. Following the expiration of the Master Rights Agreement between the…

The Indian Super League, ISL 2025–26 returns on Saturday, February 14, with two marquee fixtures that underline the competition’s growing stature. Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant host Kerala Blasters FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, while AIFF Super Cup winners FC Goa take on debutants Inter Kashi at the PJN Stadium…

As the Indian Super League makes its long-awaited return to Jamshedpur after nearly a year, Jamshedpur FC have unveiled a 28-member squad for the upcoming campaign, signalling renewed ambition under returning head coach Owen Coyle. With nine crucial home fixtures lined up at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, the Men of Steel will begin their…

In a landmark decision for Indian club football, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has officially rebranded the long-standing I-League the country’s second-tier professional competition as the Indian Football League (IFL), starting with the 2025–26 season. The change, approved by the federation’s Executive Committee, represents both symbolic and structural shifts in how domestic football below…

Punjab FC have officially unveiled their 27-member squad for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) 2025–26 season, as the Shers prepare for their third campaign in India’s top-flight competition. With a blend of continuity, youth development and targeted reinforcements, the Chandigarh-based club has once again leaned into its long-term philosophy of building sustainably while remaining…

A Narrow Miss But Is the Door Completely Shut on India’s Asian Games Hopes? On the surface, India’s U23 men’s football team will not be at the 2026 Asian Games. The new qualification framework jointly introduced by the AFC and the Olympic Council of Asia has made participation strictly merit-based only teams that qualified for…

Kerala Blasters FC have officially confirmed that they will continue to play their home matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kochi, bringing clarity after months of uncertainty surrounding the club’s venue plans  . The confirmation, announced on February 10, 2026, ends speculation about a possible relocation and ensures that the Blasters will remain at…

The Indian senior women’s national football team have concluded an intensive overseas training camp in Türkiye and departed for Perth, Australia, as they enter the decisive phase of preparations for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.  The upcoming continental showpiece, to be held from March 1 to March 21, 2026, in Australia, represents far more…

Mumbai City FC will once again call the Mumbai Football Arena (MFA) their home for the 2025–26 Indian Super League season, reaffirming continuity at a time when Indian football has experienced significant structural shifts. While several aspects of the league ecosystem have changed over the past year, one constant remains the Islanders’ fortress in Andheri…

In a season defined by structural shifts and competitive recalibration, Mumbai City FC have moved decisively in the winter window, securing the services of Finnish international midfielder Joni Kauko until the end of the campaign. The move, confirmed earlier this week  , signals both tactical intent and strategic clarity as the Islanders navigate a new…

The India U17 men’s national team went down 0-1 to Türkiye in the first of two international friendlies at the Emirhan Sport Center in Manavgat, Antalya, on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The closely contested match served as an important preparatory fixture for the Blue Colts ahead of the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026….

Indian football has entered a new phase of continental accountability. With the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) introducing a unified qualification pathway for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi–Nagoya (September 19–October 4, 2026), participation in football will no longer be determined by internal nominations or discretionary government approval. Instead,…

The Indian Super League transfer window has delivered another intriguing subplot, as Mumbai-born right back Ranawade makes a temporary switch to the Mariners, reuniting with head coach Sergio Lobera. The move sees the experienced defender follow the path of teammates Noah Sadaoui and Adrian Luna in heading out on loan this season, leaving Kerala Blasters…

Services clinched their eighth Santosh Trophy crown with a dramatic 1-0 extra-time victory over Kerala at the Dhakuakhana Football Stadium in Assam on Sunday. In a tense and tactical final that remained deadlocked for over 100 minutes, it was Abhishek Pawar who once again proved decisive, striking in the 109th minute to settle the contest…

The Indian women’s senior national team suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat to Romanian club FK Csíkszereda Miercurea Ciuc at the Fanatic Tour Serik Sport Center in Antalya, Türkiye, on Saturday, bringing an end to their preparatory fixtures in the country ahead of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. The lone goal of the match came early,…

The stage is set at the Dhakuakhana Football Stadium in Assam as Kerala and Services prepare to lock horns in the Santosh Trophy 2025-26 final on Sunday. With both sides chasing their eighth title, the clash carries not just the weight of a trophy, but the weight of history. Kerala and Services are among the…

India produced a commanding performance to defeat defending champions Bangladesh 4–0 in the final of the SAFF U19 Women’s Championship 2026 at the Pokhara Rangasala Stadium in Nepal on Saturday. In a contest that few predicted would be so one-sided, the Young Tigresses delivered a tactically disciplined and emotionally charged display to overturn their recent…

Kerala Blasters FC head into the 2025–26 Indian Super League season amid one of the most turbulent periods in Indian football, with significant squad churn reflecting both structural uncertainty in the league and a conscious shift in the club’s sporting strategy. The latest transfer window has seen the Kochi-based club undergo a major reset, with…

Mohun Bagan Super Giant enter the 2025–26 season at a pivotal point, balancing continuity at the top with a clear-eyed reshaping of the squad. After establishing themselves as the most consistent force in Indian football over the past few years, the Mariners have opted for a selective rebuild rather than wholesale change strengthening key domestic…

Odisha FC head into the 2025–26 season at a clear crossroads, with a significantly reshaped squad reflecting both sporting recalibration and the broader uncertainty surrounding Indian football’s top tier. The club’s transfer activity modest in incomings but heavy on departures points towards a deliberate reset after several seasons of high investment and ambitious targets. The…

The India U20 women’s national football team has taken a decisive step in its build-up to the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026, departing for a month-long preparatory camp in Sweden. The camp forms the final major preparation phase before the continental tournament, scheduled to be held in April, and reflects the All India Football…

East Bengal FC have entered yet another phase of rebuilding as the club reshapes its squad ahead of the upcoming Indian Super League season, signalling a clear intent to reset after a turbulent campaign marked by inconsistency and constant churn. With a substantial list of arrivals and departures, the Kolkata giants appear determined to strike…

Inter Kashi’s entry into the Indian Super League for the 2025–26 season is not being treated as a ceremonial promotion. Instead, the Varanasi-based club has opted for one of the most aggressive squad resets seen in Indian football in recent years, reshaping almost its entire roster to prepare for life at the highest level.The club’s…

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Wednesday officially confirmed that India has entered the bidding process to host the 2031 AFC Asian Cup, marking a significant statement of intent from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Indian football’s broader ambitions on the continental stage. India is among six bidders competing for hosting rights, alongside…

Services booked their place in the final of the Santosh Trophy 2025–26 with a clinical 2–0 victory over Railways at the Silapathar Football Stadium in Assam on Thursday, riding once again on the decisive influence of Abhishek Pawar. The forward, who has emerged as one of the standout performers of this year’s national championship, scored…

Mumbai City FC head into the upcoming season in a vastly different space from where they stood just a year ago. Once the benchmark of stability and continuity in Indian football, the Islanders have undergone one of the most dramatic squad overhauls in the league, with a long list of departures offset by a smaller,…

Jamshedpur FC have entered the 2025–26 Indian Super League season in the middle of one of the most sweeping squad overhauls in the club’s history. With as many as 18 departures and 10 new arrivals, the Men of Steel have clearly opted for a reset rather than incremental change, signalling a shift in sporting direction…

Kerala secured the final semifinal berth of the Santosh Trophy 2025–26 with a comprehensive 3–0 victory over hosts Assam at the Silapathar Football Stadium, underlining their growing authority in the tournament’s decisive stages. Goals from Manoj M, Muhammad Ajsal and substitute Aboobacker Dilshad ensured a controlled and clinical performance that never allowed Assam’s home advantage…

India’s second-tier football competition, the I-League, will return in a scaled-down format on February 21 with ten clubs confirming participation for the 2025–26 season. The campaign, delayed by more than two months due to governance uncertainty in Indian football, marks a critical transition phase as the league moves towards a club-owned structure from next season….

The Indian Super League (ISL) has entered its most turbulent phase since its launch in 2014, with the 2025–26 season witnessing an unprecedented collapse in its commercial valuation. FanCode has secured the league’s broadcast rights for just ₹8.5 crore a staggering fall from the ₹550 crore paid by Viacom18 for the previous two seasons combined…

India’s Under-17 women’s team produced a ruthless, free-flowing display to thrash Bhutan 8–0 in their final round-robin match of the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship 2026 at the Pokhara Rangasala Stadium on Wednesday, sealing a place in Saturday’s final against Bangladesh. In a tournament where India are playing a year above their age group as part…

Punjab FC enter the 2025–26 Indian Super League season at a defining moment in their short but ambitious top-flight journey. After finishing tenth in the 2024–25 campaign, the club did not opt for minor tweaks. Instead, it chose a bold reset releasing 14 players, signing 10 new faces, and reshaping both its tactical identity and…