Indian Football 2025: A Year of Turbulence, Transition, and Tentative Rebirth

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. Yet, the Blue Tigers’ failure to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup remains the defining outcome of the year, exposing systemic weaknesses that even a mid-season resurgence could not ultimately resolve. 

The first half of 2025 was dominated by the fallout from Manolo Márquez’s troubled tenure. Appointed in mid-2024 amid expectations of tactical sophistication and stability, Márquez’s short-lived stint became one of the most turbulent in recent memory. Allowed to continue in a dual role as FC Goa’s head coach while helming the national team, Márquez struggled to build cohesion or tactical clarity within the squad. His inability to dedicate uninterrupted preparation time coupled with a lack of continuity in camps and player development led to widespread disarray.

India’s FIFA ranking continued its downward slide, reaching 121. A 489-day winless streak underscored the decline, only broken by a 3–0 friendly win over Maldives in March. Though that victory acted as a temporary relief, the damage had already been done. India’s AFC Asian Cup Qualification campaign was faltering, and the team entered the summer with little tactical identity, dwindling confidence, and a fractured competitive rhythm. 

The Khalid Jamil Effect: A New Direction

It was against this backdrop that Khalid Jamil took charge on August 1, becoming the first Indian head coach of the men’s national team in 13 years. Jamil, renowned for guiding Aizawl FC to a historic I-League title, arrived with a reputation for defensive organization, motivational clarity, and maximizing Indian talent.

His initial emphasis was simple: restore the team’s structural integrity. Players were instructed to stay compact, defend man-to-man, and maintain shape, while being encouraged to “play their natural game” in attack. This defensive-first approach, though conservative, immediately offered the stability India had been missing. 

Jamil’s first major assignment the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 showcased this tactical shift. India opened with a landmark 2–1 win over Tajikistan, their first victory over the side in 17 years. A 0–3 defeat to Iran followed, along with a goalless draw against Afghanistan, but the defensive organization was visibly stronger.

The highlight came in the bronze medal match against higher-ranked Oman. Trailing 0–1, India equalized through Udanta Singh after yet another effective long throw-in routine a tactic that became Jamil’s set-piece weapon of choice. All three of India’s goals in the tournament originated from long throw-ins, underlining the pragmatism of the new regime.

In the penalty shootout, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu delivered the decisive save to secure India’s first-ever CAFA podium. For a team emerging from administrative chaos, the result signaled renewed belief and functional discipline. 

AFC 2027 Qualification Failure: The Season’s Defining Low

Yet the biggest test the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification campaign exposed India’s deeper issues. Heading into the November fixture against Bangladesh, India had already been mathematically eliminated, having secured just two points from five matches.

The 0–1 loss in Dhaka was both symbolic and substantive. Bangladesh beat India for the first time in 22 years, capitalizing on an 11th-minute counterattack finished by teenager Sheikh Morsalin. India looked flat and predictable in open play, unable to unlock a disciplined Bangladeshi low block. While second-half substitutions from Jamil injected urgency particularly debutant Mohammed Sanan the team lacked the structured attacking patterns needed to break down stubborn opposition.

The defeat was compounded by a major administrative failure: striker Ryan Williams, who had switched allegiance from Australia, was in Dhaka with the squad but ruled ineligible due to delayed FIFA clearance. His final approval arrived a day after the match, costing India a key attacking option in a contest lost by one goal. For a team desperately short of forward quality, the impact was significant. 

Assessing the Jamil Blueprint

Under Jamil, India rediscovered a functional defensive identity and improved discipline. Three out of four Man of the Match awards at CAFA went to defenders or Gurpreet Sandhu, affirming the system’s effectiveness.

However, the lack of consistent attacking creativity remains India’s biggest weakness. The team relied heavily on long throw-ins a useful short-term weapon but not a long-term offensive strategy. Against opponents who sit deep, India still struggles to find patterns of play, combinations, and controlled transitions capable of producing high-quality chances. 

India’s 2025 campaign ends with both optimism and unanswered questions. The defensive foundation laid by Jamil is promising, but progress now depends on addressing key gaps:

Developing Open-Play Attacking Mechanisms: India must move beyond set-pieces as their primary threat. Structured patterns, better use of central midfielders, and faster transitions are critical.

Integrating Ryan Williams Immediately: Now fully eligible, Williams must be utilized as a central figure in attack. His experience, movement, and physicality can shift India’s offensive ceiling.

Leveraging Young Talent: Players like Sanan, Mahesh Singh, and Vikram Pratap showed potential. Transitioning them from impact substitutes to reliable starters will shape India’s future.

Administrative Modernization: Eligibility delays as seen with Williams and logistical issues must be eliminated. Efficient coordination with FIFA and foreign federations is essential. 

India’s 2025 football story is one of hard resets and hard lessons. The CAFA bronze proved that disciplined structure can yield results, but the Asian Cup qualification collapse exposed a lack of offensive depth and administrative preparedness. As the Blue Tigers move into 2026, the central question is whether they can evolve from a reactive, defensively resilient unit into a proactive, tactically complete team.

The foundation is laid but the transformation is far from complete.