They weren't up for a windfall even after the trophy but life was certain to get a lot better as some sponsors and state governments stepped up to lift them financially.
The final day of the GOAT India Tour will also see Messi exchanging greetings with two members of the Indian cricket team at the Ferozshah Kotla Stadium.
East Bengal power past Punjab FC in Super Cup semi-final
India have slumped to 142 in the FIFA rankings -- their lowest in nearly a decade.
The camp began in Bengaluru on Thursday.
The winners of each group will join hosts Assam, last season's champions West Bengal and runners-up Kerala in the 12-team Final Round that will be hosted in Dhakuakhana and Dhemaji.
Reigning Indian Super League champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant on Saturday suspended all their football activities indefinitely a day after the AIFF failed to receive a single bid for ISL's commercial rights, and said they will review contracts of players and support staff next month.
Williams, Bharti join camp, signalling new chapter for Indian football
Satyanarayan told PTI that the AIFF will have to obey the CAS' final ruling on the matter.
AIFF's RFP: No franchisee fee for clubs in ISL, commercial partner to provide video support system
'We have already said that our judgment is only in the interregnum till the Act comes into play. These small things could have been easily taken care of. Anyway, we will seek the views of Justice Rao and issue a clarification.'
Indian football team drops six places to 142nd in FIFA rankings after 0-1 loss to Bangladesh
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) tweeted, "Real Kashmir FC have withdrawn from AIFF Super Cup 2025-26, as VISAS for their foreign players could not be secured. They will be replaced by Dempo SC."
Now AIFF's move to hand the trophy to Churchill Brother, just hours after the CAS order staying the federation's decision to declare the club as champions, could provoke international scrutiny, including from FIFA.
Indian football team head coach Khalid Jamil on Wednesday announced 23 probables for the inconsequential Asian Cup qualifiers match against Bangladesh and talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri's name is missing from the list.
Miranda had worked as assistant coach of FC Goa, Odisha FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Mumbai City FC in the past.
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.
The All India Football Federation decided to form an eight-member task force to look into the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) negotiations with its commercial partner Football Sports Development Ltd
A late header from new signing Koldo Obieta helped Kerala Blasters FC begin their Super Cup campaign with a hard-earned 1-0 win against a 10-man Rajasthan United FC, in Bambolim, Goa, on Thursday.
Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is not scheduled to play serious football on the 'G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025'.
The top two sides from each of the three groups, along with the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter-finals.
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's distressed football players issued a joint statement on Tuesday pleading with the administrators to get the currently paused Indian Super League (ISL) season underway.
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"
The season-opening Super Cup will kick off from October 25 in Goa, an official of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said on Tuesday.
Veteran striker Sunil Chhetri appears poised to extend his iconic association with Bengaluru FC, as the club dropped a teaser video hinting at a new deal for the 41-year-old.
East Bengal FC ignited their semifinal hopes with a commanding 4-0 win over Chennaiyin FC in Group A of the AIFF Super Cup, in Bambolim, on Tuesday.
'The AIFF is happy to have the government's strong support in our bid to host the AFC Asian Cup 2031. The Asian Cup is the biggest football tournament in Asia and it is important for India as a nation to showcase what we have, not just to Asia but to the rest of the world.'
All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey on Friday said the governing body has been working in a "dedicated" manner to start this season's Indian Super League (ISL), currently on hold due to uncertainty surrounding the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL).
East Bengal, FC Goa, Mumbai City FC and Punjab FC are the semifinalists.
12 ISL clubs agree to participate in Super Cup, winner to get ACL 2 play-off spot
Namdhari had lost 0-3 in the match played at their home ground at Sri Bhaini Sahib in Punjab.
Sunil Chhetri and his two Bengaluru FC team-mates -- Rahul Bheke and Roshan Singh Naorem -- on Monday joined the national men's football team's preparatory camp in Bengaluru
The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its order on issues pertaining to the renewal of the master rights agreement, which is necessary for holding Indian Super League (ISL) football matches this season.
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.
The group winners will qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, which will feature 24 teams in all, including the hosts.
No headway in meeting between AIFF and FSDL
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.
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.
The apex court has reserved its judgement on draft AIFF constitution and a hearing is scheduled for Monday.
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