'We will be starting with the U17 league first, followed by the U15 and U13. There will be spotters in most of the games of U13 leagues, to identify talents.'
The early strike set the tone for the remainder of the half as the Indian side dictated the tempo. Bam Khatoon's Sara Didar and Fatemeh Geraeli made some long-range efforts with no luck.
India face hosts Tajikistan on August 29 followed by matches against Iran on September 1 and Afghanistan on September 4.
Xavi, it is learnt, "sent an email from his own account" to apply for the post.
The injury to the 32-year-old stalwart is a big blow to India as they take on a strong Afghanistan side in their third and final Group B match on Thursday.
The AIFF said Jamil has signed the contract after parting ways with ISL team Jamshedpur FC.
Despite suffering their first defeat in the qualifiers, India are still in contention. The meet group leaders Iran in a do-or-die match on Sunday. Victory in that match will secure India's passage to the AFC Asian Cup for the 10th time in history.
Concerned about Indian football's "decline for many years", East Bengal, one of the country's oldest clubs, on Thursday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's urgent intervention to address the "unprecedented crisis"
'Khalid will have to begin with consistency and with new players and good strikers from U-23 because he has to build for the future.'
India football head coach Manolo Marquez stepped down on Wednesday after reaching a 'mutual agreement' with the All Indian Football Federation.
The technical committee of the AIFF, headed by former captain IM Vijayan, will meet on Wednesday to shortlist the candidates for the appointment of the head coach of the senior men's national team after the federation received 170 applications for the vacant post.
In accordance with the decision, the committee has rescinded the red card shown to Akhtar, and downgraded it to a caution (yellow card) "for reckless play nature as suggested concerning the technical report".
The group winners will qualify for the 12-team final tournament in China next year.
India now have two points from three matches after a 0-0 draw against Bangladesh and 0-1 loss to Hong Kong in their earlier match.
The All India Football Federation is exploring the possibility of selecting Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) for the Indian football team.
East Bengal, FC Goa, Mumbai City FC and Punjab FC are the semifinalists.
With both NorthEast United FC and Jamshedpur FC dropping points, neither side can now catch up with the Gaurs, who have booked their last-four berth with a game to spare.
AIFF chief Chaubey accuses Bhutia of running football schools for "vested interest"
Several countries across the globe use VAR in their domestic club competitions after it was first introduced in Australia and the United States.
Sunil Chhetri said the current state of uncertainty in Indian football is very concerning and the sport's ecosystem is 'worried, hurt, and scared' by the top-tier ISL being put on hold indefinitely.
In a bold push to expand India's talent pool, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey has revealed that the federation is actively pursuing the inclusion of Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) in the national football team.
The India U17 men's national team sealed their spot in the semi-finals of the SAFF U17 Championship 2025
Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is not scheduled to play serious football on the 'G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025'.
East Bengal FC produced a disciplined defensive performance to hold arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant to a goalless draw and qualify for the semifinals of the Super Cup.
Talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri has been left out of the 35 probables named by newly-appointed Indian football team head coach Khalid Jamil for the upcoming CAFA Nations Cup in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Inter Kashi filed an appeal at the Switzerland-based CAS on April 24 against the decision of the AIFF appeals committee and the world's apex sports tribunal ruled in favour of the club on Tuesday.
Fourteen players, including Bengaluru FC captain Sunil Chhetri, are not immediately joining the preparatory camp for next month's Asian Cup qualifying round matches against Singapore as three clubs have delayed the release of their players, which will be a cause of concern for head coach Khalid Jamil.
The Indian senior women's football team suffered a 1-2 defeat against Nepal in their second match of the Tri-Nation International Friendlies at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Monday.
Kalyan Chaubey alluded to lack of goals from the Indian strikers, which he said could be one of the reasons for the poor show by the team under Manolo Marquez.
There are four first-timers in Jamil's camp of 25 players -- defenders Alex Saji, Sunil Benchamin, Muhammed Uvais, and forward Manvir Singh.
India face hosts Tajikistan on August 29 followed by matches against Iran on September 1 and Afghanistan on September 4.
Bhutia calls for systemic overhaul, urges India to follow Asian football models
Besides vice president N A Harris, treasurer Ajay Kipa, all other newly elected executive committee members, and the six eminent footballers co-opted in the committee, except Bhutia, were present in the meeting.
All India Football Federation executive committee member Deepak Sharma was arrested by Goa police on Saturday for allegedly physically assaulting two women players.
The AIFF issued a show-cause notice to senior men's team head coach Igor Stimac for making comments construed as a breach of agreement by his employers.
In Colombo on Monday, the India-Pakistan rivalry spilled onto the football field as the SAFF U-17 Championship delivered a five-goal thriller.
Jamil's first assignment in his new role will be the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup, to be held in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan starting August 29.
'Everyone knows what is at stake, and the approach and mindset that we need in these matches.'
Churchill Brothers have withdrawn from the Super Cup tournament starting April 20 in Bhubaneswar, protesting against the All India Football Federation's decision to not officially declare them as 2024-25 I-League champions
