News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Kolkata will host the summit clash of the U-17 World Cup football on October 28 while Navi Mumbai and Guwahati were chosen to stage the semi-finals.
SK Faiaz proved to be a super substitute for team India. The youngster scripted a well-deserved victory against Nepal in India's second Group A match of the AFC U-19 Championship (Qualifiers) at the Al Arabi Stadium in Doha on Sunday night.
Mohun Bagan's hopes of retaining the I-League title virtually went up in smokes after they were held to a 3-3 draw by DSK Shivajians in an enthralling I-League contest.
Bengaluru FC showed no sign of protective-approach, when they trounced Shillong Lajong FC 2-0.
Sunil Chhetri led former champions Bengaluru FC to a 1-0 win over East Bengal with his second-half strike that consolidated their position atop the standings in the I-League football at the Vidyasagar Krirangan, in Barasat, on Saturday.
Poor finishing and scrappy defending put paid to India's quest for an eighth South Asian Football Federation Cup title as it suffered a 1-2 defeat against Maldives in the summit clash, in Dhaka, on Saturday.
In an embarrassment to India, the country has been warned of heavy penalty by the Olympic Council of Asia if it withdraws from sending teams in a few disciplines in the upcoming Asian Games, a development which led to the IOA slamming some government officials for "ruining sport".
If India footballer CK Vineeth has joined the government COVID-19 helpline centre in Kerala, his national team-mate Subhashish Bose has taken it upon himself to feed the homeless and jobless in his home town Subhasgram in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Amid the nationwide lockdown, a long queue could be seen every morning at Subhasgram comprising of local rickshaw pullers, daily wage earners or small time hawkers who come to collect their daily ration.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
One of the traditional hubs of Indian football alongside Kolkata and Kerala, Goa's chances of hosting marquee matches in the FIFA U-17 World Cup appear to have taken a hit owing to low attendance in the AFC U-16 event last year.
Defending champions Mohun Bagan pipped Sporting Clube de Goa 1-0 courtesy Katsumi Yusa's late strike, tightening their grip on the pole position of the I-League football tournament, in Barasat, on Saturday.
India has a population of 1.3 billion but the nation's obsession with and success on the cricket pitch has left it a massive underachiever on the football field.
'I have always believed in building a 'team for the future'. Eventually, in a few years, these guys will represent India National Team. My eventual goal is to unearth some talents who'll be ready for the senior national team'
The I-League on Saturday suffered another jolt with Shillong-based Royal Wahingdoh deciding not to play in the upcoming season, citing 'lack of proper roadmap for the league' and financial inviability, thereby becoming the third club to pull out of the nation's top football competition.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Real Kashmir scored their first victory of the ongoing I League season with a 2-1 defeat of the defending champion Chennai City.
Many Indian footballers have improved by leaps and bounds thanks to the exposure of playing in the Indian Super League in the last three seasons.
Stimac was part of the Croatia team that sensationally reached the semi-finals of the World Cup at the first attempt in 1998 and he is looking to his India squad to similarly buck the odds in Asian qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
India may be the underdogs in the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup but midfield-lynchpin Suresh Singh Wangjam is confident that playing on the home soil would help them do well in the prestigious tournament.
India striker Jeje Lelpekhlua scored twice as Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan thrashed Aizwal FC 5-0 in the summit clash to clinch the Federation Cup football tournament title for a record-extending 14 times in Guwahati on Saturday.
An important factor in India's stupendous success in 2021 was the way the government opened its coffers to support athletes.
National football coach Stephen Constantine said his 'target' was to breach the 100 mark by the time his two-year contract expires.
Indian football saw a big jump in the FIFA rankings on Thursday, rising 24 places to go up to 147 spot.
It would be unfair to expect India to bedazzle crowds with eye-catching football. This team is built around stability, writes Dhruv Munjal
Constantine said silly individual errors cost India the match.
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 failed to capitalised on the many chances that came their way and lost to Afghanistan 0-2 in the final of the 2013 SAFF Championship at the Dasrath stadium in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
Jordan Murray put Kerala ahead in the 64th minute before Neville's stoppage-time equaliser (90+5) ensured that SCEB extended their unbeaten run to six games.
Minerva Punjab FC got the better of Churchill Brothers 1-0 to win the I-League 2017-18 title on Thursday, concluding a season peppered with dramatic turns and unexpected twists.
Not focussing on grassroot development over the years has led to the players learning the basics only late in their career, says national coach Stephen Constantine.
"India should also be a powerhouse in world football but it is not, because of match-fixing in cricket for goodness sake'
News of all that transpired on and off the football field.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday placed Hockey India under a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) to run its day-to-day affairs
An ambitious project to awaken a sleeping giant of Asian soccer looks like confirming Nobel laureate Amartya Sen's famous remark that India pricks up its ears only when comparisons with China are made. With China embarked on a multi-billion dollar mission to become a soccer superpower by 2050, India looks set to follow suit with its own plan to raise its status in the game to match its burgeoning economic power. Come October, India, most famously described as soccer's sleeping giant by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, will launch a programme to engage more than 11 million children in soccer-related activities.
Pune FC braved a rain soaked evening and clinched a narrow 1-0 win over Royal Wahingdoh FC.
Summary of I-League football matches played across India on Friday.
Mumbai FC's unbeaten run came to an end after they slumped to a 1-3 home defeat to Salgaocar FC in an I-League Round-5 encounter at the Balewadi Sports Complex, in Pune, on Friday. A second half brace from striker Darryl Duffy (66th and 72nd minute), and a late goal by winger Gilbert Oliviera (90th) handed the visitors three points. Substitute Jayesh Rane pulled one back for the hosts in the 85th minute.
In the country's maiden appearance in any World Cup, India showed sparks in patches, but lagged way behind in class.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances