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Even at 41, there is no better player in the country than talisman Sunil Chhetri in terms of quality and he will be in the national team as long as he is available, new India head coach Khalid Jamil said on Monday. Chhetri was left out by Jamil from the national camp for the CAFA Nations Cup beginning August 29, saying it was just a preparatory tournament for the crucial Asian Cup qualifiers matches in October. He made it clear that Chhetri will walk into the national team against Singapore on October 9 (away) and October 14 (home). "There is no better quality player in India than him. So, when he is available, why not? We need his experience. He is a legend and he has given so much to the nation for so many years," Jamil told PTI from Bengaluru where he addressed his first press conference as India head coach. Chhetri took international retirement after playing against Kuwait in June last year but made a comeback for national duty in the match against Maldives in March this year ..
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear on August 22 a matter involving a row between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and FSDL over the fate of 11 Indian Super League (ISL) clubs due to the non-renewal of their contracts with the national federation and the tournament's organisers. The 11 ISL clubs have warned the AIFF that they "face the real possibility of shutting down entirely" if the ongoing impasse regarding the future of the top-tier domestic competition is not resolved soon. A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and A S Chandurkar agreed to hear the plea after amicus curiae and senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan submitted that during the tenure of the contract, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) has to honour it by conducting the ISL. "If it does not, the AIFF should be directed to terminate the contract and float a tender. Otherwise the players suffer and after repeated non-payment, we can be sanctioned by the FIFA," Sankaranarayanan said. The bench sai
Chuffed about Indian women football team's qualification for the AFC Asian Cup, defender Dalima Chhibber on Tuesday said the side will enter the continental tournament with an aim to secure a historic berth in the FIFA World Cup. Dalima expressed confidence that the Indian team, comprising fine players like Pyari Xaxa and Sangita Basfore, can punch above its weight to script history. "It means everything to us and we have qualified because of our abilities," Dalima said during the launch of the Subroto Cup school football tournament. She attended the occasion as Guest of Honour. "We are heading towards a golden future. Recently, our U20 team also qualified for the Asian Cup. It is a sport that every country plays, we are taking steps in the right direction and it is a matter of time that we achieve success and qualify for the FIFA World Cup," Dalima added. Dalima, who plays as a defender, last appeared for India in 2024, shared her thoughts on India's historic qualification for the
Indian Super League franchise Punjab FC on Tuesday announced a 26-member reserve squad, including nine U19 players, for the upcoming State Super Football League. Runners up at the last season, Punjab FC will open their campaign against Dalbir FA in New Chandigarh on Saturday. Coached by Praveen Kumar, Punjab FC have 16 players from Punjab and the coach has also named six players on standby. Manav Singh, who was named in the senior squad for the Durand Cup 2025, has also been included. "Most of them have experience playing in the Punjab league last season and with a balanced side, we hope to better our performance from last season," Praveen said in a release. The Squad: Goalkeepers: Harpreet Singh, Naveen Saini, Jaskaran Dub, Mohammed Fizaan Jabir Defenders: Manav Singh, Jagdish Singh, Aryan Nakra, Ekmeet Singh, M. Leidong, Mohammed Sohel Khan, Mohammad Sahil, Satnam Singh, Om Motghare Midfielders: Sarthak Singh, Harsh Tiwari, Ngarin Shaiza, Bishu Sharma, Tourangbam Zaithleen Si
Individuals will come and go but they cannot control a sport in the country, All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Kalyan Chaubey said on Thursday as he also mentioned a court judgment. Chaubey did not specify the judgment but he might be referring to the AIFF constitution case which has been pending in the Supreme Court. The SC has reserved its decision after hearing the arguments of the parties. A judgment is expected soon. Some former players and officials are of the opinion that the SC may order new election to the AIFF. The current office bearers under Chaubey were elected in September 2022 and if they serve a normal four-year tenure, the next polls will be due in September 2026. "Whatever may be the situation, whether the current body may be in power, whether some other judgment come, but the chair of the president and other office bearers of AIFF will remain," Chaubey told a press conference after a meeting with representatives of 13 Indian Super League (ISL) clubs .
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Thursday proposed that the Super Cup be held from the second or third week of September to ensure the ISL clubs get sufficient number of competitive matches though doubts remain over the start date and format of the top-tier league this season. The AIFF made the proposal during a meeting with representatives of all the Indian Super League clubs, who have of late expressed their concerns after the upcoming season of ISL was put on hold due to uncertainty surrounding the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the league organisers and the national federation. "AIFF proposes that the Super Cup football tournament start from second or third week of September to ensure the ISL clubs get enough competitive matches. "The AIFF and all the 13 ISL clubs collectively took the decision in national interest. We will meet again in 7 to 10 days and take a final decision," said AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey. Representatives of Mohun Bagan .
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Tuesday reiterated its decision to create a 'Benevolence Fund' to provide a one-time grant for medical purposes to ex-players, coaches, referees, match officials and support staff. A dedicated committee will be formed to evaluate applications on a case-to-case basis. AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, who pledged Rs 1,00,000 to the fund, emphasised that the initiative was a humanitarian gesture, recognising the lifelong contributions of those who have served Indian football, a release from the national federation said. "AIFF will contribute an amount of Rs 5,00,000 to the fund. The terms and conditions of the grant will be set by relevant committees," the release said. The AIFF also said it will proactively explore avenues to enhance the fund over time, including the organisation of charity matches and mobilising support from other potential sources of revenue and partnerships. In addition to the Benevolence Fund, Chaubey also proposed the .
India were on Tuesday drawn with powerhouse Japan, former champions Chinese Taipei and Vietnam in Group C of the AFC Women's Asian Cup, the continent's showpiece tournament, to be held in Australia next year. The draw ceremony for the 12-team tournament to be run from March 1 to 21, 2026 was held at the Sydney Town Hall with Indian midfielder Sangita Basfore being one of the three draw assistants. The 12 teams were divided into three groups of four teams each. The Blue Tigresses will begin their campaign with a match against Vietnam on March 4, 2026, at the Perth Rectangular Stadium. India will then face Japan on March 7 at the same venue, before squaring off against Chinese Taipei on March 10 at the Western Sydney Stadium. The top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed sides will advance to the quarter-finals. The four semi-finalists will book their tickets to the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil, while the losing sides from the quarter-finals will advance to
The next head coach of the Indian men's football team is set to be announced on August 1 when the executive committee of the national federation meets here with Khalid Jamil emerging as the frontrunner for the vacant job. While Jamil appears to be the preferred candidate of the technical committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in the three-man short-list, former India coach Stephen Constantine too remains in contention for the top job. "Yes, the executive committee is meeting on August 1 to take a decision on the men's senior national team head coach," a top official of the AIFF said. "The members have been given the CVs of all the three short-listed candidates and what they want as remuneration, etc.," he added. The executive committee has a single point agenda -- the appointment of the men's senior national team head coach. Given the AIFF's current financial constraints, Jamil will be the favourite to succeed Manolo Marquez as the new head coach. Since the 48-year-
A day after its top official claimed that World Cup-winning Spanish great Xavi Hernandez was among the applicants for India football coach's position, the All India Football Federation said that the e-mail received in his name was found to be "not genuine" and three others have been short-listed for the job. The AIFF did not reveal the names in the pruned list but it is widely believed that Khalid Jamil, currently the head coach of Indian Super League side Jamshedpur FC, is the front-runner for the post left vacant by Spaniard Manolo Marquez. "The AIFF received an e-mail furnishing the applications from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez. The authenticity of their applications could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that the e-mail applications were not genuine," AIFF stated in a media release. One of its officials, on conditions of anonymity, had stated on Friday that the application of Xavi could not be processed as the AIFF did not have resources to hire hi
All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey on Thursday assured that the Indian Super League (ISL), which has been put on hold for the time being, will be held this season, though he did not specify on a start date of the top-tier domestic competition. He also said that a new head coach of the Indian men's senior football team will be appointed within the next 10 days after the technical committee sent three shortlisted candidates to the AIFF executive committee on Wednesday to pick from. "As AIFF president, I assure you that the league will take place. But time is of the essence, there is international calendar, FIFA windows, home and away matches, so time is a factor," Chaubey told PTI at the sidelines of a press conference hosted by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). "If the league doesn't take place, it is not only footballers but the people who are associated with football will be affected. It's thousands of people who will be affected. So, we will put our
Inter Kashi were on Friday declared I-League champions after the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) Appeal Committee's decision of awarding the title to Churchill Brothers of Goa. The AIFF had announced Churchill Brothers as the I-League champions after its Appeal Committee ruled against Inter Kashi in a matter related to the fielding of an 'ineligible player'. The Varanasi club had ended at second spot after points were deducted from their tally. But on appeal by Inter Kashi, the CAS asked the AIFF to reverse its decision of awarding the title to Churchill. "The AIFF shall forthwith declare Inter Kashi FC as winner of the I-league 2024-25 season," the Lausanne-based CAS said in its order. "The appeal filed on 4 June 2025 by Inter Kashi FC against the decision issued on 31 May 2025 by the Appeal Committee of the All-India Football Federation is partially upheld. "The decision issued on 31 May 2025 by the Appea