Category: Football

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…

The Indian football men’s national team’s 2025 campaign stands as a study in contrasts a year that oscillated between stagnation and revival, between deep-rooted structural shortcomings and glimpses of renewed competitive edge. What began with instability under former head coach Manolo Márquez eventually transformed into a more disciplined, resilient outfit under new boss Khalid Jamil….

The cancellation of the Indian women’s football team’s European tour to North Macedonia scheduled during the November FIFA International Window has emerged as one of the most consequential administrative lapses in recent Indian football history. What should have been a vital preparatory assignment ahead of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 instead turned into a…

The All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) enters one of the most critical phases in its modern history as it prepares for its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on December 20, 2025. What is usually a procedural gathering has transformed into a high-stakes event, unfolding amid an unprecedented governance and financial meltdown. With the Indian Super League…

India begin their AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers 2026 campaign with a high-stakes opening clash against Palestine, India U17 vs Palestine U17,  on 22 November 2025 in Ahmedabad, a match that could define both teams’ fortunes in what is one of the most competitive groups in this qualification cycle. With only the group winner earning…

The India U-17 Men’s National Football Team enters a decisive chapter as the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers kick off in Ahmedabad from 22–30 November 2025. The EKA Arena by TransStadia, packed with home fans and electric energy, is set to become the site where India’s next generation attempts to reclaim its continental standing….

India’s dramatic plunge to FIFA Rank 142 in November 2025 marks one of the most alarming chapters in modern Indian football history. It is not just a number it is the clearest statistical confirmation of a footballing system that has collapsed across competitive, technical, administrative, and commercial lines. Based on the latest diagnostic report, India’s…

East Bengal’s hopes of sealing early qualification to the AFC Women’s Champions League quarterfinals took a hit in Wuhan, where defending champions Wuhan Jiangda delivered a sharp, disciplined performance to secure a 2–0 victory. The match, played on Thursday afternoon, was shaped decisively in the opening minutes as Chinese superstar Wang Shuang struck twice inside…

The AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL) 2025/26 enters a defining phase as East Bengal FC (W) gear up to face Wuhan Jiangda FC (W) in a pivotal Group B Matchday 2 fixture on November 20. What was expected to be a routine step for the reigning champions has instead transformed into one of the most…

The Indian Women’s Football Team will travel to North Macedonia on November 20 for one of its most strategically significant international exposure tours in recent years. Falling within the FIFA International Women’s Match Window (November 24–December 2), the tour is a carefully engineered component of the Blue Tigresses’ long-term build-up to the AFC Women’s Asian…

Bangladesh produced a memorable night in Dhaka, beating India 1–0 to record a famous victory in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. Shekh Morsalin’s composed finish in the 11th minute proved enough as the home side dug in behind the lead, defended doggedly and held on as the crowd erupted in relief and celebration. For India,…

When India walk out at the National Stadium in Dhaka on November 18 for India vs Bangladesh, it will not feel like a match between two teams already knocked out of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifying race. The fixture may be a dead rubber on paper, but India vs Bangladesh has never been a…

East Bengal FC Women’s stunning 3–1 victory over Bam Khatoon FC on Matchday 1 of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025/26 has done more than rewrite sporting history. It has created a financial and strategic milestone for Indian women’s football, positioning the club and the Indian Women’s League (IWL) at the beginning of a new…

When 20-year-old defender Dane Saju signed for HNK Brotnjo Čitluk in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the move sparked interest across Indian football circles. Headlines framed it as another young Indian “entering Europe,” but beneath the celebratory narrative lies a far more complex reality one that reveals both the progress and pitfalls of India’s evolving player-export ecosystem….

East Bengal FC could not have hoped for a better start to their AFC Women’s Champions League 2025/26 campaign. Playing at the Hankou Cultural Sports Centre in Wuhan, the Indian champions delivered a composed, efficient and often dominant performance to defeat Iran’s Bam Khatoon FC 3-1 in their Group B opener on Monday. Goals from…

Indian football stands at its most fragile moment since the formation of the Indian Super League (ISL) in 2014. What was launched as a bold, reformative project to modernize Indian football has entered a dangerous period of uncertainty. At the heart of the crisis lies the impending expiry of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between…

In global football conversations, the Premier League (PL) stands as the gold standard for how a domestic league can transform an entire sporting ecosystem and national economy. In contrast, India’s Indian Super League (ISL) operates in a vastly different environment one where football fights for space, investment, and attention in a cricket-dominated landscape. But the…

When East Bengal Women lifted the 2024–25 Indian Women’s League trophy in April, the celebrations stretched far beyond the club’s red-and-gold faithful. That victory did more than crown a deserving champion it opened the door to the biggest stage an Indian women’s club has ever stepped onto, the AFC Women’s Champions League Group Stage. Now,…

In 2025, four U23 Indian women footballers Rivka Ramji, Harshika Jain, Aveka Singh, and Kajol Dsouza found themselves spread across four very different footballing cultures, East Asia, Eastern Europe, Nordic Europe, and the Middle East. Indian women football is entering a decisive new phase one defined not only by national team milestones but by the…

Bengaluru FC’s announcement on November 14, 2025, confirming the departure of head coach Gerard Zaragoza, marks one of the most significant turning points in the club’s recent history. While managerial exits are not new in Indian football, this one reflects a deeper structural issue that extends far beyond performance or tactical disagreements. Zaragoza’s departure along…

At a time when Indian football is mired in uncertainty, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has quietly launched one of the most important commercial decisions in the history of the women’s football. On 14 November 2025, the federation issued a fresh tender inviting partners to acquire commercial rights to the Indian Women’s League (IWL)…

As the evening sun settles behind the Sabarmati and a cool November breeze sweeps across the old and new quarters of Ahmedabad, the city prepares for a celebration unlike any in its sporting history. The familiar sounds of bustling traffic around Kankaria are replaced by the echo of footballs at the EKA Arena by TransStadia,…

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Thursday named a 23-member Indian squad that will travel to Dhaka for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier Saudi Arabia 2027 against Bangladesh. While the announcement features several expected names across all positions, the biggest talking point is the conditional inclusion of Bengaluru FC winger Ryan Williams, who could…

The unprecedented failure of the Indian Super League (ISL) commercial rights tender on 7 November 2025 has sent shockwaves through Indian football. For the first time since the league’s inception in 2014, not a single entity including incumbents, domestic platforms, or overseas groups submitted a bid for the 15-year commercial rights package. The tender had…

The Indian men’s football team’s closed-door practice match against Bhutan, India vs Bhutan in Bengaluru may have appeared like a low-profile encounter on paper, but in reality, it represents one of the most strategically crucial moments in India’s ongoing preparation cycle. With a AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Bangladesh looming on November 18 in…

When Sunil Chhetri announced his retirement from international football in May 2024, India felt an entire era folding into a single moment. The country’s most decorated player its captain, its leader, its heartbeat for nearly two decades declared his final bow. The June 6th World Cup qualifier against Kuwait at a sold-out Salt Lake Stadium…

Rivka Ramji’s transfer to Lion City Sailors Women’s Team (LCS WT) in Singapore is far more than an overseas signing it is a defining moment for Indian women’s football. At just 18, the India U-19 midfielder has taken a decisive professional leap that reflects both her own ambition and the shifting developmental realities for India’s…

In a move that signals both personal excellence and institutional ambition, Tomasz Tchórz, head coach of Sporting Club Delhi (SC Delhi), has officially attained the UEFA Pro License the highest coaching qualification in European football. The achievement not only elevates Tchórz into an elite global bracket of coaches but also marks a watershed moment for…

Indian footballer Ativeer Jain is entering the most crucial chapter of his career. His move in 2025 from FC Alverca’s B side where he produced a stunning 25 goals in 25 matches to Portimonense SC’s U-23 team in the elite Liga Revelação, represents a decisive shift from numerical dominance to qualitative validation. For a 21-year-old…

The India U20 Women’s National Team enters the final stretch of preparation for the 2026 AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup, set for April in Thailand, knowing that the challenge ahead is unlike anything they have encountered in their current cycle. Having topped their qualification group earlier this year, India arrive at the Asian Cup with…

The Tri-Nation Women’s Football International Friendly Tournament 2025 in Shillong brought the Indian women’s football team back to the Northeast after nearly a decade, but the return did not produce the results the Blue Tigresses hoped for. Featuring India (FIFA Rank 63), Iran (70) and Nepal (89), the tournament was designed as a preparation window…

Indian women’s football team head coach Crispin Chettri has announced a 25-member list of probables for the national camp ahead of the November FIFA International Women’s Match Window, as preparations intensify for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026. The camp will begin on November 10 at the National Centre of Excellence in Kolkata, with players…

The appointment of Sandip Nandy as the India U23 Goalkeeping Coach marks one of the most strategically important coaching transitions in recent Indian football. It is not merely a routine staffing move by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), but a significant injection of elite experience into a crucial development stage that feeds directly into…

The hill city of Gangtok is set to host one of India’s most storied football tournaments the 41st All India Governor’s Gold Cup International Football Tournament, from November 16 to 29, 2025, at the iconic Paljor Stadium. Organized by the Sikkim Football Association (SFA), the event carries more than just historical weight; it represents a…