Indian Football

Intercontinental Cup: India to face Syria in winner takes all match

Hosts India and Syria will go head to head in the winner-takes-it-all third and final game of the Intercontinental Cup trophy here on Monday. India, who began the competition with a goalless draw against Mauritius on Tuesday, are eyeing their second consecutive Intercontinental Cup triumph, and third overall. Syria beat Mauritius 2-0 on Friday, which means they hold a slight advantage heading into the final game as the Eagles of Qasioun require only a draw to claim the trophy. Syria have a long history of playing tournaments in India, but the title has always evaded them. The West Asians lost back-to-back Nehru Cup finals to India in 2007 and 2009 before finishing fourth in 2012. In their last trip to India in the 2019 Intercontinental Cup, Syria ended in third place. But for the Blue Tigers to deny them a first silverware on Indian soil, they will need to end a winless streak stretching back to November last year. "It will be a difficult game for both sides. It's a friendly game,

ISL has been one of the most important tournaments in my lifetime: Chhetri

Bengaluru FC skipper Sunil Chhetri hailed the Indian Super League as one of the most important tournaments he has participated in, ahead of the commencement of the 2024-25 season of the competition. Chhetri admitted that back in 2014, he wouldn't have predicted the growth that the ISL has seen over the years, producing umpteen young talents and becoming bigger with the entrance of new clubs. "It has been outstanding. 10 years back if I was asked where ISL would reach, or the position that it would hold in Indian football, I probably wouldn't have guessed where we are. It has grown outstandingly well from an eight-club two-month-long league to now running for the whole year, with the talents that it has produced," Chhetri said. He added, "It has single-handedly become one of the most important tournaments in my lifetime. In the coming future, as I am an Indian football fan, I hope it grows exponentially and I hope the coming 10 years are far better than what we have seen in the last

Odisha FC secure qualification for AFC Women's Champions League group stage

Odisha FC have secured AFC Women's Champions League Group Stage berth, by topping their preliminary round in Zarqa, Jordan. Making their international debut, the Indian Women's League champions first defeated Lion City Sailors FC (Singapore) 4-1 before notching a hard-fought 2-1 win over hosts Etihad Club on Saturday to qualify for the Group Stage of Asia's elite women's club competition. A brace from 19-year-old Lynda Kom Serto and two own goals paved the way for Odisha FC's 4-1 win over the Singapore outfit. With Etihad Club winning 5-0 against Lion City Sailors in the next match, Odisha FC required nothing less than three points against the Jordanian champions to qualify from the group. Expectedly, it started as a close contest but the Juggernauts managed to take a 1-0 lead at half-time thanks to Jennifer Kankam Yeboah's 27th-minute goal after she was released in space by Neha. However, Etihad Club found the equaliser in the 57th minute via Jordan's all-time top-scorer Maysa ..

Mohammedan Sporting beat Kerala All-Star XI in charity match in Manjeri

The event aimed to raise funds for the victims of the recent landslides in Wayanad, with all proceeds directed towards the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF)

Mohammedan Sporting Club to play from 2024-25 season, confirms ISL

Indian Super League on Saturday confirmed that Kolkata-based Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC) will be the newest side in the domestic top-tier competition, taking the total number of teams in the upcoming season to 13. Starting from the 2024-25 season, Mohammedan Sporting, one of the oldest football clubs of the country, will compete in the ISL, a release stated. This follows their triumphant 2023-24 I-League title-winning campaign, making them the second club after Punjab FC to earn promotion to the ISL. The 13 teams which will be vying for top honours in 2024-25 ISL season are Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, FC Goa, Hyderabad FC, Jamshedpur FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Mumbai City FC, NorthEast United FC, Odisha FC, Punjab FC along with three iconic Kolkata clubs of over 100 year legacy -- Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC and Mohammedan Sporting. The ISL season begins on September 13.

AIFF to organise charity matches for Kerala, Himachal flood victims

The All India Football Federation will be organising two charity football matches to raise fund for the relief work in Kerala and Himachal Pradesh, which have been devastated by natural disasters. The AIFF is trying to schedule its first benefit match in Manjeri in Malappuram district of Kerala on August 30 between Kolkata outfit Mohammedan Sporting Club and a Super League Kerala XI. AIFF has proposed September 2 as the date for the second charity match in Lucknow. However, further details are still being chalked out by the governing body with the prospective clubs. "I'm happy that one of India's oldest clubs, Mohammedan Sporting immediately agreed to our proposal for the cause of humanity. We are also in advance conversation with two clubs for the Lucknow match," said AIFF President, Kalyan Chaubey in a release. "Sports is a powerful medium to offer comfort and heal humanity after such tragedies. We often celebrate cups won by clubs; let's now come together to raise the cup of ...

Resigning from technical committee as AIFF bypassed panel: Bhaichung Bhutia

Legendary footballer Bhaichung Bhutia on Saturday told the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) executive committee that he is resigning from his membership of the technical committee, alleging that the panel was "bypassed" while appointing the national men's team head coach. Spaniard Manolo Marquez, who is currently in charge of Indian Super League side FC Goa, was on Saturday named India head coach by the AIFF executive committee. He will succeed Croatian Igor Stimac, who was sacked on June 17 after India failed to qualify for the third round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Bhutia, who is a co-opted member of the executive committee as a former player and attended Saturday's meeting here, claimed that under normal practice, the technical committee recommends the head coach of the national team. The current technical panel is headed by legendary IM Vijayan. "I have been chairman of AIFF technical committee in the past (2013 to 2017) and involved in coach appointments like in case o

After consecutive defeats, footballer Bhaichung Bhutia quits politics

Indian football icon Bhaichung Bhutia on Tuesday announced that he was quitting politics, following his defeat in the recently held assembly elections in Sikkim. Bhaichung, the vice president of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), lost to SKM's Rikshal Dorjee Bhutia in the Barfung seat, which marked his sixth electoral defeat. He joined politics in 2014 when the ruling TMC in West Bengal named him as its candidate for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat. In 2018, he took the plunge into the political arena of his state by forming the Hamro Sikkim Party. Last year, he merged his party with the Pawan Chamling-led SDF. "Firstly, I would like to congratulate Mr PS Tamang and the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) for winning the assembly elections. The people of Sikkim have given them a resounding mandate and I hope the SKM govt will work to fulfil their promises and take Sikkim to greater heights across all sectors," he said in a statement. "After the 2024 election results, I have had the ...

After sacking Stimac, AIFF advertises for new Indian football team coach

Stimac reacted to the sudden announcement by saying that he would sue AIFF if he did not receive his full compensation within 10 days of sacking

No VAR! India's FIFA World Cup 2026 dream shattered by controversial goal

The FIFA World Cup 2026 second round qualifier saw a controversial goal by Qatar's Yousef Aymen in the 73rd minute, which the Indian team contested as the ball had gone out of play

FIFA WC 2026 Qualifier IND vs QAT: India robbed of chance to script history

Poor refereeing robbed India of a chance to secure a historic entry into the third round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers as Asian champions Qatar rode on a controversial goal to emerge 2-1 winners here on Tuesday. India were ahead thanks to Lallianzuala Chhangte's 37th minute goal but disaster struck when the referee adjudged Yousef Aymen's 73rd minute equaliser as fair after the ball appeared to have gone out of play. The controversial decision turned the game on its head as Qatar scored their second through Ahmed Al-Rawi in the 85th minute. This was after the Indians came within touching distance of scripting history after going 1-0 at half time, with Kuwait and Afghanistan goalless in the day's other match. But the Indian dream lay shattered in a space of few minutes in the second half courtesy the controversial goal by Aymen and the ensuing strike by Al-Rawi. Meanwhile, Eid Al-Rashidi struck the winner for Kuwait in the 81st minute. Qatar and Kuwait thus progressed to the sec

FIFA WC 2026 Qualifier, India vs Qatar live match time (IST) live streaming

The India vs Qatar football match will begin at 9:15 PM IST today. Fans can watch the live streaming of IND vs QAT football on the Fan Code app.

Sunil Chhetri retires: List of all goals scored in international football

Sunil Chhetri represented India in 146 matches during his illustrious career of 20 years, and most 94 goals for India

City Club to club football's Citadel: Making of the legend Sunil Chhetri

Playing for the City Club in Delhi at 18, Chhetri scored in one of the four games in the Durand Cup 2001-02 and made it to the top five promising players of the tournament

Here's how legend Sunil Chhetri shaped Indian football for the future

The tidal shift in the football fandom of the national team can be credited to one man in particular and that is Sunil Chhetri

FIFA WC qualifier: Impt for all of us, especially Sunil bhai, says Thapa

Central midfielder Anirudh Thapa knows that a win for India in their upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kuwait will be massive for the country's football landscape and he is confident of putting the best foot forward. The game, at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, will also mark the legendary Sunil Chhetri's farewell from international football after a glorious 19-year career. "It is an important match for all of us, and especially for Sunil bhai. We need to make sure that we qualify for the third round because that would be huge for Indian football and the fans," Thapa told the All India Football Federation's website. "We're playing at the Salt Lake and the stadium will be fully packed. We all know how crazy the fans are and how much they love football there. We will give our best for the nation. We need to be at our best to get those three points," he added. India, who need to win their last two matches in the qualifiers against Kuwait (home) on June 6 and Qatar (away) on

India squad for FIFA WC Qualifier vs Kuwait: Gogoi, Hammad miss out

Indian men's football team head coach Igor Stimac has named a 27-member squad for next month's FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Kuwait with forward Parthib Gogoi and defender Muhammad Hammad missing out due to injuries. A total of 32 players had been camping in Bhubaneswar, out of which five -- Phurba Lachenpa, Parthib, Imran Khan, Hammad and Jithin MS -- have been released from the camp. "All of them were very professional and hard-working. The competition is really strong amongst them, especially in the positions of Jithin and Parthib," Stimac said in a media release. "Parthib and Hammad suffered minor injuries a few days back and will need 7-14 days of rest," he added. The remaining players will continue to train in Bhubaneswar until May 29 when they will travel to Kolkata. The Blue Tigers will face Kuwait at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on June 6, which will be talismanic Sunil Chhetri's swansong. Following the match against Kuwait, India will travel to take on Qata

'The match against Kuwait is my last': Sunil Chhetri announces retirement

Sunil Chhetri ranks third among active players in the list of international goal scorers, trailing behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

Champions Mohammedan Sporting end I-League campaign with shocking loss

Champions Mohammedan Sporting couldn't end their I-League campaign in the manner befitting their triumphant run to the title as they were humbled 3-1 by Delhi FC here on Saturday. Mohammedan Sporting found the net through Mirjalol Kasimov in the added time (90+9'), while Delhi FC scored through Alisher Kholmurodov (7'), Gwgwmsar Goyary (31') and Sergio Barboza (90+8'), spoiling the home team's planned party in front of their own crowd at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. The 100-plus years club from Kolkata was crowned champions last Saturday after they beat Shillong Lajong FC 2-1 in their penultimate match, a result which also promoted them to the top-tier Indian Super League. However on the day, just seven minutes after providing a guard of honour to the champions, Delhi were in the lead as Alisher Kholmurodov headed in Pape Gassama's corner with full authority to stun the stadium full of partisan spectators. It took a while for Mohammedan to wake up from their champion's .

FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: India, Afghanistan play out goalless draw

India and Afghanistan settled for a 0-0 draw after failing to turn their opportunities into goals in a Group A fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers here on Thursday. It was end-to-end stuff in the first half with India coming very close to scoring through Manvir Singh on two occasions and the hosts too having their share of chances. However, most of them were half chances and goalkeepers of both teams were not tested enough. With India and Afghanistan resorting to open football, the first half (45+3) saw a wave of attacking moves but the strikers were not able to come alive in the final third, leaving both gaffers Igor Stimac and Ashley Westwood a bit frustrated as they shouted instructions from the touchline. India were on the offensive from the word go and caused some anxious moments in the Afghanistan defence and had Manvir not spurned a great chance on the 17th minute, the visitors would have taken an early lead in their away leg of the second round of 2026 World Cup a