Anirudh Thapa scored a historic goal against Uruguay, becoming the first Indian to score against a top-20 FIFA nation since 1992.
India's national football team suffered a 6-1 defeat against two-time former world champions Uruguay in an international friendly in Kolkata.
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.
Bhutia calls for systemic overhaul, urges India to follow Asian football models
Vikash Dhorasoo, the first Indian-origin player in a FIFA World Cup, expresses strong belief in India's potential to reach football's biggest stage. Visiting India for a friendly match against Brazil, Dhorasoo highlights the importance of method, clear objectives, and leveraging players of Indian origin to elevate the national team's level. He also offers his coaching expertise to help develop young talent in India.
The Indian men's football team, led by head coach Khalid Jamil, will play high-profile friendlies against Panama, five-time world champions Brazil, and two-time world champions Uruguay in September and October.
The Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season has been postponed to after October 6 due to the FIFA international match window, and will proceed with 13 teams after Diamond Harbour FC failed to meet payment deadlines. Concurrently, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has condemned "unverified claims" regarding its finances and the decision to withdraw from the FIFA ASEAN Cup, asserting that the prioritisation of a friendly match against Brazil was a strategic move for Indian football.
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 Durand Football Tournament Society has recognised 11 young footballers with the Emerging Player award, each receiving Rs 1 lakh. These players, from various teams across all six groups, impressed with their performances, showcasing promising talent and potential during the ongoing Durand Cup.
The Indian Super League (ISL) has announced a partnership with JSW MG Motor India, making the British automotive brand the title sponsor for the 2026-27 season. This marks the return of a title sponsor to India's premier football league after three seasons, with the league to be known as the MG Indian Super League.
Legendary Brazilian captain Cafu has urged India to shed its "tiny status" mindset in football and believe in its potential for growth, offering Brazil's cooperation. He responded to Bhaichung Bhutia's concerns about an India-Brazil friendly, emphasising the importance of grassroots development and international collaboration, drawing parallels with Japan and China's success. Cafu also shared his personal journey of overcoming doubts to become a football legend.
The Indian Super League (ISL) has appointed Karan Yadav, former Chief Commercial Officer of JSW Sports, as its new CEO. He will lead the league under a new club-led model, focusing on strategic direction, commercial growth, and strengthening stakeholder relationships, while clubs will hold commercial rights and AIFF will maintain administrative oversight.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has assured the All India Football Federation of full government support to host India's biggest-ever international football fixture against five-time World Cup champions Brazil in Kolkata on October 3. This historic match will be India's first against a top-five FIFA-ranked nation, offering crucial exposure to the national team despite initial concerns over crowd management.
The Indian men's senior football team and their head coach were denied entry to a press conference at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi due to a payment dispute between the Kerala Football Association and the stadium owners.
Khalid Jamil, head coach of the Indian football team, expressed optimism despite a 4-0 defeat against five-time world champions Brazil. He highlighted the high quality of the Brazilian team and the learning experience for India, emphasizing the need for more high-profile matches to improve. Jamil also defended goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and looked forward to the upcoming match against Uruguay.
A football friendly match between India and Brazil, featuring star player Vinicius Jr, saw a surprisingly low attendance at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium. High ticket prices and the ongoing Durga Puja festival are cited as the primary reasons for the subdued response, contrasting sharply with the usual fan frenzy for local derbies and past international events.
Gokulam Kerala FC secured their first win of the IFL season with a 2-0 victory over Dempo SC, thanks to goals from Moses Lalrinzuala and Mirjalol Kasimov.
Former Brazil captain Cafu discussed India's upcoming friendly against Brazil, highlighting the learning opportunity despite ranking differences. He also suggested India popularise football among children for growth, commented on Brazil's World Cup drought, and reflected on the evolving role of fullbacks in modern football.
Punjab FC head coach Pavlos Dermitzakis expresses strong confidence in his team's ability to challenge for the Indian Super League title this season. He highlights the squad's quality, built around homegrown talent, and their thorough pre-season preparation, including participation in the IFA Shield. Dermitzakis also details the team's philosophy of playing attractive, possession-based football with tactical flexibility, a sentiment echoed by captain Khaiminthang Lhungdim as they prepare for their opening match against Odisha FC.
India's U15 football team secured a 2-1 victory over Cameroon in their second Group K match at the FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival Azerbaijan 2026. An early own goal gave India the lead, which was restored by R Lalremruatfela after Cameroon equalised. Goalkeeper Jenit Ningthoujam's crucial saves ensured India's second consecutive win in the tournament.
Indian football remained in a state of terminal decline after experiencing arguably its darkest phase in a year marked by severe administrative crisis, court hearings, financial issues, absence of domestic leagues, and a steep decline in performance of the senior men's team.
FC Bengaluru United has reappointed Nallappan Mohanraj as their head coach for the upcoming 2026-27 domestic season. Mohanraj, who previously led the team to Indian Football League qualification, will guide them through the BDFA Super Division League and their maiden IFL campaign.
At a time when Indian football is staring at unprecedented uncertainty with its domestic season in limbo, the Asian Football Confederation on Wednesday delivered a triple blow to the country's top club
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"
Brazil's star-studded line-up, including Vinicius Jr and Marquinhos, is set to face India in a friendly match at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, with veteran goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu captaining the Indian side.
The first five matches of the Indian Super League 2026-27 season have garnered significant viewership on YouTube, with 65 million views and 52 million viewers. The opening week also saw high concurrent viewership, particularly for the Inter Kashi versus Kerala Blasters FC match, and strong engagement across both English and Hindi feeds, underscoring the league's growing digital presence and the importance of multilingual content.
Indian football team drops six places to 142nd in FIFA rankings after 0-1 loss to Bangladesh
Churchill Brothers are set to begin their new Indian Super League campaign against Mumbai City FC on Sunday. Head Coach Dimitris Dimitriou aims to establish a distinct footballing identity, while the team returns to the ISL after a season away, following a turbulent period in Indian football.
Cristiano Ronaldo's sister, Elma Aveiro, met Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan in Kozhikode. During their interaction, Satheesan highlighted the immense passion for football and Cristiano Ronaldo among Malayalis, and Aveiro promised to convey their warm wishes to the football star.
Sourav Ganguly has confirmed his new role as head coach for Delhi Capitals for the 2027 IPL season, replacing Hemang Badani. He addressed potential conflict of interest concerns regarding his concurrent presidency of the Cricket Association of Bengal, citing a BCCI ombudsman order. Ganguly also commented on India's football performance and congratulated PM Narendra Modi.
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.
The Indian football team, ranked 138th, achieved a commendable 1-1 draw against world No. 44 Panama in a FIFA International friendly. Ryan Williams scored for India, while Omar Valencia equalised for Panama. This result is considered a significant achievement under coach Khalid Jamil and provides a morale boost ahead of upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Uruguay.
Uruguay defeated India 6-1 in an international friendly, marking another heavy loss for the Indian team against a two-time world champion. Despite an early equalizer from Anirudh Thapa, Uruguay dominated the second half with goals from Maximiliano Araujo, Rodrigo Zalazar, Juan Manuel Sanabria, and Rodrigo Aguirre, following an initial penalty by Darwin Nunez. This defeat concludes a challenging international window for India, which also included a 0-4 loss to Brazil.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced that the 2026-27 Indian Football League (IFL) season will begin on October 30. Following a successful 2025-26 season with significantly increased viewership, the upcoming season will feature new regulations, including a limit of three foreign players on the pitch, and an expanded footprint with new venues in Nagaland and Odisha. Discussions also covered the IFL Charter, budget, and broadcast partnerships.
The Bombay High Court has expressed strong displeasure with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for approving the conversion of the Neville D'Souza football ground in Bandra into an exhibition centre, despite an earlier oral assurance to maintain status quo. The court has ordered the BMC to halt further action and questioned the impact on outdoor sports.
The All India Football Federation has announced a series of high-profile international friendly matches for the Indian men's national team. India will host Panama on September 26 in Bengaluru, followed by five-time world champions Brazil on October 3 and two-time world champions Uruguay on October 6, both in Kolkata. These matches represent a significant step for Indian football, offering the team a chance to compete against top-ranked global opponents.
Williams, Bharti join camp, signalling new chapter for Indian football
Indian football team suffers embarrassing 0-1 loss to Bangladesh in Asian Cup qualifiers
India have slumped to 142 in the FIFA rankings -- their lowest in nearly a decade.
India faces a challenging Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya with a significantly smaller contingent of 168 athletes, down from 303. While aiming to build on its record 111-medal haul from the last Games, selection disputes in para-shooting and para-cycling, coupled with reduced athlete numbers in key disciplines like para-athletics, pose hurdles. Despite these challenges, star athletes across para-athletics, archery, para-badminton, shooting, and table tennis are expected to lead India's medal charge.
