India may not be at FIFA World Cup 2026, but four players with Indian roots will represent their nations on football's biggest stage.
The Indian men's football team, participating in the Unity Cup in the UK, was warmly welcomed at India House in London ahead of their match against Zimbabwe. The team interacted with fans and shared insights during a reception hosted by the High Commission of India.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has released its tentative calendar for the 2026-27 season, featuring the Indian Super League (ISL), Federation Cup, and other key tournaments.
Indian women's football team veteran Grace Dangmei has announced her international retirement following the team's SAFF Championships victory. The 30-year-old forward, who represented India 95 times, concluded her nearly 15-year career with a third SAFF title, having also played for top Indian and Uzbek clubs.
The Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) has partnered with Tata Steel Limited to train young footballers from the state at the Tata Football Academy (TFA) in Jamshedpur, providing professional exposure to selected boys and girls across various age categories.
In a Rajasthan village, over 100 girls are embracing football, transforming a barren field into a vibrant playground and chasing dreams once considered unattainable.
A grassroots football academy in Punjab is using football to combat drug abuse and develop young talent, addressing key issues in Indian football's grassroots development.
India's women's football team secured their sixth SAFF Women's Championship title, and their first in seven years, by defeating defending champions Bangladesh 3-1 in the final. The team maintained an all-win record throughout the tournament, scoring 18 goals and conceding only one, showcasing a dominant performance.
Ted Lasso actor Cristo Fernandez, known for playing Dani Rojas, has signed a professional football contract with El Paso Locomotive FC, a U.S. second-tier team, fulfilling a lifelong dream after overcoming a past knee injury.
Title contenders India made an emphatic start in the SAFF Women's Football Championship as they pumped in goals for fun to notch a crushing 11-0 win over Maldives in the tournament opener in Margao on Monday.
Mexico have failed to progress beyond the Round of 16 for the last 32 years. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil, they hope to finally end the 'quinto partido' curse.
India's football faces a setback as it receives only one play-off slot for the 2027-28 AFC Challenge League, the third tier of Asia's club structure, due to administrative issues and declining performance.
Across World Cup co-host Mexico, soccer pitches are laid out wherever communities can find the space. On the edges of towns, on highway underpasses, and even in a volcano crater, spaces are cleared that allow the young and the old to share in the dream of the beautiful game.
The West Bengal government plans to remove the football-themed sculpture outside Salt Lake Stadium, designed by former chief minister Mamata Banerjee, and upgrade the venue's infrastructure.
The Indian men's football team experienced a disappointing debut in the Unity Cup, losing 2-0 to Jamaica in the semi-finals held in London.
The Indian men's national football team was defeated by Jamaica in the semifinal of the Unity Cup 2026, held in London. Jamaica will now proceed to the final, while India will compete for third place against Zimbabwe.
Iran's national soccer team attended visa appointments in Ankara, Turkey, applying for Canadian visas and some players also submitting applications for US entry ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Irish footballers, celebrities and campaigners have urged the FAI to boycott UEFA Nations League matches against Israel, citing the Gaza conflict and alleged breaches of FIFA and UEFA statutes.
FIFA has approved a rule change allowing Afghan women footballers, many exiled since the Taliban's return, to play official international matches in FIFA competitions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his two-day visit to Sikkim, engaged in a football session with local children in Gangtok, describing the experience as 'energising'. He also attended the closing ceremony of 50 years of Sikkim's statehood and launched projects worth Rs 4,000 crore.
Sreenidi Deccan FC fought back to secure a 1-1 draw against Dempo Sports Club in an Indian Football League match, with Hadi Idrissou's second-half goal cancelling out Marcus Joseph's early opener.
Middlesbrough are demanding that Southampton be kicked out of the Championship playoff final after accusing their rivals of secretly filming their training session before their playoff semi-final.
India's U17 football team is set to compete in the AFC U17 Asian Cup, starting with a challenging match against Australia. Coach Bibiano Fernandes emphasises the importance of staying organised and focused throughout the tournament.
Southampton have been expelled from the Championship play-offs after being found guilty of spying on opponents. Middlesbrough have been reinstated and will face Hull City in the final.
Toronto will hand out free soccer-themed condoms during the FIFA World Cup as part of a public health campaign promoting safer sex and sexual health awareness.
Zee Entertainment said on Monday it had secured the rights to broadcast the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 38 other FIFA events through 2034.
The Indian U17 men's football team lost 1-5 to the United Arab Emirates in a friendly match in Thailand.
Italian football is experiencing a significant crisis following the failure of its clubs in European competitions and the national team's continued absence from the World Cup.
Italian second-tier soccer club Venezia has secured a significant minority investment from sports industry heavyweight Tim Leiweke, thanks in part to Canadian rapper Drake.
Karnataka defeated Punjab in a penalty shootout to win the U13 ASMITA National Football League title after a 1-1 draw.
India's Under-17 men's team faces Uzbekistan in their final AFC U-17 Asian Cup group match, with a win potentially securing qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The Indian U17 men's football team is set to play two friendly matches against Qatar in Doha as part of their preparations for the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026.
England captain Harry Kane sparked a social media buzz after showing off his cricket skills during the team's FIFA World Cup 2026 training camp in the United States.
Senior officials from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) met in New Delhi to discuss key issues including the Indian Super League (ISL), the AIFF's Constitution, and compliance with the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. The AFC assured AIFF of continued support for Indian football.
Chanmari FC secured a 2-0 victory against Dempo SC in an Indian Football League match, with goals from Lalruatsanga and Jota. The win moved Chanmari to fifth place, while Dempo dropped to sixth.
Namdhari FC secured a 3-0 victory against Real Kashmir FC in the Indian Football League, boosting their survival hopes. Goals from Manvir Singh, Manish Chaudhary, and Najib Fuseini Ibrahim sealed the win, while Real Kashmir were reduced to 10 men after a red card.
Danish soccer player Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch in a match against Ukraine on Sunday, but was conscious, the Danish Football Federation said in a social media post.
Iran's football federation announced its World Cup ticket allocation has been revoked just days before the tournament, leaving many fans unable to attend.
India's national football team played out a 1-1 draw against Tajikistan in their second international friendly. Vikram Partap Singh scored for India, but a late penalty conceded by a defensive lapse allowed Tajikistan to equalise. This match, following a 1-3 loss in the first friendly, is part of India's preparations for future international assignments.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) has announced an eight-year partnership with FIFA to broadcast all its matches, including the World Cup 2026, in the Indian market. The deal includes 39 FIFA global football events, with live coverage available on ZEEL's sports network and streaming platform ZEE5.
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