With doubts looming over skipper Baichung Bhutia's availability and taking into account their unimpressive outings in the friendly matches, India face a daunting task in their bid to make an impact in the Asian Cup football tournament which kicks off on Friday.
This will be the first time since the 1994 Hiroshima edition that an Indian team will not take part in the football competition of the Asian Games.
The Indian national football team suffered a humiliating 1-9 defeat at the hands of Kuwait in an international friendly match played as part of preparations for next next year's Asian Cup, in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has served a show cause notice on Churchill Alemao, patron of Goan football club Churchill Brothers, for his recent comments against match officials and referred him to the disciplinary committee.
Chelsea had the look of champions again as they maintained their comfortable seven-point advantage at the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 victory at Bournemouth on Saturday -- but Tottenham Hotspur will not give up the chase.
The re-born Paul Pogba scored twice, for the second time since Jose Mourinho's departure from the club, as Manchester United beat Bournemouth 4-1 to make it three wins in a row for caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Australia has pulled out of bidding to host the 2018 World Cup finals and will instead focus on hosting the 2022 tournament, the country's football federation (FFA) said on Thursday.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) head Mohamed Bin Hammam will propose that the president of soccer's world governing body FIFA should have a maximum reign of eight years.
The Swiss is out of sight as FIFA corruption scandal deepens
Back at their happy hunting ground, India would look to make amends of their solitary goal loss to Thailand last week when they take on the same opponents in their second international match in the build-up to next year's AFC Asian Cup in Qatar at the Ambedkar Stadium on Wednesday.
Kolkata giants East Bengal lost 1-2 to Syrian powerhouse Al Ittihad and suffered their fifth straight defeat in the AFC Cup, in Aleppo, Syria.
The Iranian girls' soccer team have been kicked out of this year's first Youth Olympics because of a FIFA ban on playing in Islamic head scarves.
India began the year on 97 in FIFA rankings, but after two wins, four draws and seven losses, the country ended 2019 at 108
Myanmar coach Gerd Zaise praised Indian National Team skipper Sunil Chhetri highly
Sunil Chhetri termed his team's maiden Indian Super League victory against FC Goa as a 'sweet one'
Churchill Brothers missed out a berth in the AFC Champions League as they lost to United Arab Emirates giants Al Wahda 5-2 in the final play-off match in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Minerva Punjab did not turn up for the first match of the qualification round, prompting the national federation to describe it as a 'crazy' and 'unacceptable' move.
While Spurs play Inter Milan at home in Champions League on Wednesday, on Thursday, Arsenal face a long trip to Ukraine to play Vorskla Poltava in the Europa League, needing a victory to consolidate first place in the group.
AFC Cup semi-finalists East Bengal suffered a jolt ahead of their big match next week as they were beaten by former champions Dempo 3-1 in Kalyani on Thursday.
India were handed the worst possible draw for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals in Doha, Qatar, as they were clubbed with Australia, South Korea and Bahrain in Group C. India got a tough group featuring Australia and South Korea -- two sides have qualified for 2010 World Cup from Asia -- and Bahrain, who just missed out on the showpiece event in South Africa via a play-off against New Zealand.
With an aim to make the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup a huge success, the Sports Ministry has urged all the states and Union Territories to take necessary steps to popularise and promote football in their region by including the game in various programmes. In a letter sent to all Chief Secretaries of states and Union Territories, Secretary, Department of Sports Rajiv Yadav has said that FIFA U-17 World Cup is going to be held in India in October 2017 for the first time. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' programme on March 27, the letter said that the Prime Minister has called for building an atmosphere and fervor of football in the country as a run up to the FIFA U-17 World Cup. He said the Prime Minister wants football to be played in every nook and corner of the country. The communication further said that following the call of the Prime Minister, the Department of Sports has initiated a series of steps to popularise football throughout the country.
The last 24 hours have been a follow-through to that and other sporting events across the world. Rediff.com brings you five Best Sports Photos of all the action that sum up memorable events of the last 24 hours.
Churchill Brothers let in an injury time goal as they played out a 2-2 draw against defending champions Kuwait Sports Club in a Group 'B' AFC Cup match at the Nehru Stadium in Margao.
National football coach Stephen Constantine named 32 probables on Wednesday for India's upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup joint qualification Round 1 home and away matches against Nepal. India first host Nepal on March 12 at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium in Sajusarai, Guwahati, while the return leg is slated to be played in Nepal on March 17.
A star-studded England will take on unpredictable Chile in a Group F match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup at the refurbished Salt Lake Stadium, in Kolkata, on Sunday.
India's star striker Sunil Chhetri is in doubt for India's Asian Cup qualifier against Kyrgyzstan as well as the international friendly against Lebanon next month, according to his I-League club Bengaluru FC's chief executive officer.
Aizawl FC have threatened to 'fast unto death' after finding themselves in the bizarre position of staring at relegation next season despite winning India's top division title on Sunday.
High drama ensued during the English Premier League matches on Wednesday as Spurs manager Jose Mourinho was booked while Brighton stunned Chelsea via Alireza Jahanbakhsh's superb equaliser to deny the Blues victory. Here is all the EPL action in IMAGES from Wednesday's matches.
Manchester City begin a crucial week in the Premier League title race when they host Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday.
Out of contention for a spot in the next round, India scored a consolation 4-1 win over Afghanistan in their AFC Under-19 Championship qualifiers Group C match at Arbil, Iraq.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
English football giants Chelsea on Tuesday met officials of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in a bid to help development of the sport in the country. Chelsea chief executive officer Peter Kenyon held discussions with AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco and national chief coach Bob Houghton in Panaji.
Indian football team remained static at 132nd in the world rankings but moved up one place among Asian countries to the 21st spot in the latest FIFA chart issued on Wednesday.
The failure to make the AFC Champions League still hurts Dempo coach Armando Colaco but given the highly competitive nature of Asia's top club tournament, he feels Indian sides would struggle even if they qualify.
The group stage Asian Cup exit turning out to be one bitter pill that he found too hard to swallow.
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