There has been considerable confusion around the Asian Football Confederation’s sanctions on Mohun Bagan Super Giant, with the prevailing assumption being that the club has been handed a blanket multi-year ban from continental competition. That reading, while understandable, is inaccurate. What the AFC has imposed is more calculated and in many ways more severe in…
The question has been asked repeatedly since Lionel Messi’s visit to India: how can ₹150 crore be mobilised to bring a global icon for a few days, while Indian football continues to struggle for funding, structure and belief? It sounds like an obvious indictment of priorities. But it is also an incomplete question. The harder,…
It was undeniably special to see Lionel Messi in India. For a generation that has grown up watching him redefine football, the chance to be in the same space as a global icon carried emotional weight. Icons do that they generate instant excitement, collective pride, and memories that linger long after the cameras are switched…
India did not merely host Lionel Messi tour for a three-day exhibition. It staged a ₹500-crore economic spectacle one that laid bare both the commercial potential of global football celebrity and the structural fragility of the domestic game. The headline figure often quoted is ₹300 crore, but a closer examination shows that the overall economic…
Football, which is often called the “world’s game,” has billions of fans around the world. The FIFA World Cup brings countries together every four years to celebrate sports, passion, and competition around the world. India has never made it to the FIFA World Cup , even though it has more than 1.4 billion people living…
Lionel Messi’s visit to India was never just about football. It was about symbolism, aspiration, commercial appeal, and the familiar Indian tendency to gravitate towards icons rather than systems. The spectacle drew massive attention, packed venues, sponsors, politicians, and headlines but once the noise fades, the more important question remains: what, if anything, will actually…
Lionel Messi’s visit to India should have been a celebration of football. Instead, it became a mirror reflecting uncomfortable truths about how India engages with sport. The frenzy surrounding the GOAT India Tour, especially the chaotic scenes in Kolkata, revealed a country that passionately worships sporting icons but struggles to truly love sport itself. Messi…
East Bengal Women continued their imperious run at the SAFF Women’s Club Championship 2025, producing a dominant all-round performance to thrash Bangladesh’s Nasrin Sports Academy 7–0 at the Dashrath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu on Sunday. With this emphatic victory, the Moshal Girls maintained their perfect record in the group stage, registering three wins from three…
Mumbai witnessed a rare convergence of global football stardom and long-term grassroots planning when Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis formally launched Project Mahadeva during Lionel Messi’s G.O.A.T Tour event at the Wankhede Stadium. While Messi’s presence brought glamour and international attention, the real significance of the evening lay in the announcement of an ambitious, system-driven football…
Lionel Messi, the Greatest of All Time, is coming to India for a three-day tour of multiple cities in December 2025. This will be one of the most famous sports events in India’s history. This isn’t just a football game; it’s a cultural celebration, an emotional moment for millions, and a big deal for Indian…
Indian football finds itself at a critical crossroads as all Indian Super League (ISL) clubs except East Bengal have formally responded to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), asserting that any discussion on jointly hosting the league is futile unless the federation first removes key constitutional barriers. Their firm stance, communicated in a letter sent…
East Bengal continued their commanding run at the SAFF Women’s Club Championship 2025, climbing to the top of the standings with a composed and convincing 2–0 victory over Pakistan’s Karachi City FC at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu. With two wins in two matches, the Red and Gold brigade now stand just one victory away…
Manprit Sarkaria’s career arc is a study in rise, reinvention, and sudden uncertainty. Born in Vienna on 26 August 1996, the Austrian international is one of the most recognisable Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) in European football, with roots tracing back to Amritsar, Punjab. Over the past decade, Sarkaria carved out a reputation as a…
Every few years, Indian football rediscovers the same question. Can the global Indian diaspora help bridge the gap between promise and performance? And just as predictably, the discussion runs into the same immovable obstacle. The case of Gabriel Cleur brings this reality into sharp focus. Cleur, a professional footballer with confirmed Indian ancestry, ticks almost…
Indian football stands at a critical crossroad. With the Indian Super League (ISL) facing uncertainty following the expiry of its Master Rights Agreement (MRA) and the ongoing delay in starting the league, clubs and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) are now exploring a fundamental restructuring of how India’s top-flight competition is governed. At the…
Indian football in 2025 unfolded like a season-long audition for the future uneven, emotional, occasionally frustrating, but undeniably alive. It was a year where silverware did not always define progress, yet milestones were achieved that may prove far more significant in the long run. While the senior men endured a bruising campaign filled with hard…
The Sesa Football Academy (SFA) senior women’s team qualifying for the Indian Women’s League (IWL) for the first time is more than a sporting milestone. It marks the end of a three-year absence of Goan representation at the highest level of Indian women’s football and signals what many within the state are calling a genuine…
Since its inception in 2018, the AIFF Super Cup has steadily carved out a unique identity within Indian football. Designed as a pure knockout competition, the tournament tests qualities that league football often does not tactical adaptability, nerve under pressure, and the ability to deliver results without the cushion of long-term consistency. More than just…
East Bengal Women marked their entry into the continental club arena with an emphatic statement, cruising to a 4–0 victory over Bhutan’s Transport United Ladies FC in their opening match of the inaugural SAFF Women’s Club Championship in Kathmandu. Playing at the Dasharath Stadium, the Indian Women’s League champions showcased their superior organisation, physicality, and…
With the United Arab Emirates stepping aside, the race to host the 2031 AFC Asian Cup has transformed from a crowded contest into a strategic crossroads for Asian football. The 20th edition of the tournament, coinciding with the Asian Cup’s 75th anniversary, is no longer simply about who can deliver matches on time. It is…
FC Goa defended their AIFF Super Cup crown in the most testing of circumstances, edging past East Bengal FC in a nerve-shredding penalty shootout after a tense, goalless final at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao on Sunday. With neither side able to break the deadlock across 120 minutes of regulation and extra time,…
The AIFF Super Cup 2025–26 final in Goa sets the stage for a compelling clash between two of Indian football’s most ambitious clubs: East Bengal FC vs FC Goa. Beyond the trophy, this final carries continental consequences, pride, unfinished business, and a chance to define the trajectory of the season. For East Bengal, it is…
East Bengal FC produced a composed, powerful, and tactically assured performance to defeat Punjab FC 3–1 in the first semi-final of the AIFF Super Cup 2025 at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa. With goals from Mohammed Rashid, Kevin Sibille, and captain Saul Crespo, the Red and Gold Brigade booked their place in a third Super…
The second semi-final of the AIFF Super Cup 2025 brought drama, controversy, missed chances, and a relentless Fatorda crowd that refused to quieten down. FC Goa, carrying the pressure of defending their title on home soil, overcame pre-match chaos and a spirited Mumbai City FC fightback to secure a 2–1 victory and book their place…
In a footballing era defined by rapid transitions, data-led scouting, and the unforgiving churn of elite academies, the career of Dilan Markanday stands out for its symbolism as much as its substance. The 24-year-old winger, now a central figure at Chesterfield FC in EFL League Two, represents both the harsh realities of English football’s development…
The 2025 Vatsalya SAFF Women’s Club Championship is more than just another addition to the regional football calendar it is a foundational shift in South Asian women’s football. Hosted in Kathmandu from December 5 to 20, the inaugural tournament marks the first time a South Asian regional body has launched an international women’s club competition,…
In a global football landscape increasingly defined by dynamic wingers, data-driven recruitment, and multicultural identities, few players embody the modern game’s intersections more completely than André Filipe Ferreira Lacximicant, André Lacximicant. At 24, the Portuguese-Indian attacker has emerged as one of the most intriguing talents in Liga Portugal, combining elite creativity, high shot volume, and…
Few fixtures in Indian football carry the emotional weight, psychological baggage and narrative tension of FC Goa vs Mumbai City FC. Over the last five years, no opponent has tormented Goa more consistently than the Islanders. No team has chiselled deeper scars into their competitive identity. And no rivalry has swung so dramatically between control…
The first Super Cup semi-final between East Bengal vs Punjab FC arrives with contrasting narratives, divergent histories, and two teams that have built their tournament campaigns on completely different footballing philosophies. Scheduled for December 4 at Fatorda, the match carries significance that extends well beyond domestic bragging rights: the winner edges one step closer to…
Indian football arrived at a moment of unprecedented crisis on Wednesday, forcing the Union Sports Ministry to intervene directly in a governance dispute that had pushed the country’s top-tier league to the brink of suspension. With the 15-year Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL)…
As Indian football steps into 2026, the sport finds itself at a critical intersection one that mixes genuine progress at the youth level with deep structural vulnerabilities at home. The All India Football Federation (AIFF), buoyed by multiple continental qualifications, enters the year with unprecedented competitive opportunities across the women’s and youth pathways. But the…
The Indian women’s national football team delivered a resounding 8–1 victory over Dubai-based club Precision Football in a closed-door friendly during the late 2025 FIFA international window. While the match was not against a FIFA-ranked national team, the performance offered crucial insights into the Blue Tigresses’ tactical evolution, attacking versatility, and readiness for a demanding…
The Indian women’s football team recorded an important 3–1 victory over Banaat FC during their UAE tour, a result that arrives at a critical moment in their build-up to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026. More than a routine friendly, the match served as a focused tactical examination against a structured, professionally run opponent led…
Indian football stands at a rare crossroads. For the first time in its modern history, four national teams Senior Women, U-20 Women, U-17 Men, and U-17 Women have simultaneously qualified for their respective AFC Asian Cup finals, each serving as a direct qualification gateway to a FIFA World Cup. The year 2026, therefore, presents an…
The All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) adoption of the Supreme Court mandated rule banning dual posts marks a watershed moment in Indian football administration. While the reform appears straightforward on paper no executive committee member can simultaneously hold positions in both the AIFF and a state association the ripple effects will reshape the power dynamics,…
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has unveiled a comprehensive commercial rights framework for the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and IWL 2, covering the five seasons from 2025–26 to 2030–31. Designed to create long-term stability and robust financial incentives, this new model marks a significant shift in how women’s football will be governed and monetized…
India U17 Qualify for AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026, a Thrilling Campaign in the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Ahmedabad India topped a brutal group to qualify for AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026. Ahmedabad’s EKA Arena by TransStadCo became a battleground of dreams this November, as India’s U17 men’s football team embarked on…
India will return to the AFC U17 Asian Cup for the tenth time a moment that carries the weight of history, resilience, and the promise of a new generation stepping forward. For a nation that has seen its youth teams rise, stumble, and rise again, this qualification feels especially significant. After three consecutive appearances in…
In a night of extraordinary resolve, emotional swings, and unforgettable drama at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad, the India U17 men’s football team defeated Iran 2–1 to seal their place at the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 in Saudi Arabia. For a side that had experienced every possible result in their campaign so far a…
The All India Football Federation’s new I-League Commercial Rights RFP (2026–2030) arrives at a critical moment for Indian football. Following the failed commercial tender for the Indian Super League which received no bids due to steep financial demands and excessive operational risk the AIFF has moved quickly to restructure its approach. The newly issued I-League…
Over the past few years, India’s Northeast has witnessed one of its most significant periods of Indian football-focused investment and attention. Under AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, the region has experienced a wave of national tournaments, international fixtures, infrastructure projects, and developmental initiatives that have transformed its footballing landscape. For a region long known as the…
Shaan Hundal’s career has long been defined by potential flashes of brilliance punctuated by abrupt dips, moments of elite finishing followed by periods of struggle. But in 2025, the narrative finally shifted. At 26, the York United striker has produced the most complete, efficient, and mature football of his professional journey, transforming himself from a…
India’s U-17 team suffered a major setback in their AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign after falling 0–2 to Lebanon in Ahmedabad on Thursday evening. The defeat not only pushed the Blue Colts down to third place in Group D but has also created a scenario where only a comprehensive victory against group leaders Iran…
The 79th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2025–26 arrives as one of the most consequential editions in the tournament’s long history. More than a traditional inter-state competition, this season becomes the testing ground for the AIFF’s most radical regulatory overhaul the strict implementation of the home-born player mandate, which now requires every footballer…
Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s decision to part ways with Spanish head coach José Francisco Molina marks one of the most dramatic mid-season pivots in recent Indian Super League history. The separation, mutual on paper but deeply rooted in escalating internal tensions, represents the collapse of a tenure defined by both historic success and a sudden…
India’s U17 boys kept their AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers 2026 hopes firmly alive with a stirring 3–1 comeback victory over Chinese Taipei at the Eka Arena, thanks to a magnificent hat-trick from captain Dallalmuon Gangte. On an evening that began with anxiety and early setbacks, the Blue Colts showed maturity, resilience, and attacking conviction…
Odisha FC’s decision to part ways with head coach Sergio Lobera barely a year after extending his contract until 2026 signals one of the most consequential moments in the club’s history. What initially appeared to be a footballing decision has, upon closer examination, revealed itself as a direct consequence of the deepening governance crisis that…
FC Goa’s AFC Champions League Two campaign reaches its decisive moment on November 26, when the Indian side travel to the intimidating Al-Zawraa Stadium in Baghdad for a must-win clash against Al Zawraa SC. Rooted at the bottom of Group D with zero points from four matches, the Gaurs’ continental hopes hang by the thinnest…
The abrupt withdrawal of the Indian Arrows Women Juniors from the 2024–25 Indian Women’s League 2 is more than just a scheduling issue or financial adjustment it is a defining symptom of the structural and administrative breakdown inside the All India Football Federation (AIFF). What should have been a stable, long-term developmental project for Indian…
Maharashtra has launched one of the most ambitious grassroots football programs in India’s history Project Mahadeva, a five-year, state-backed initiative designed to overhaul how young footballers are identified, trained, educated, and prepared for international pathways. At its core, Project Mahadeva aims to transform raw talent from rural and urban regions into professionally trained athletes ready…
