Indian Football Team

Vinicius Jr, Raphinha lead Brazil's squad for historic clash against India

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, Barcelona winger Raphinha and Paris Saint-Germain veteran Marquinhos headline Brazil's 26-member squad for their historic first-ever meeting with India on October 3. The Selecao will face India at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata at 7.30 pm local time, in what will be a landmark fixture for Indian football. The match is scheduled after Brazil's two-game Australia tour, with Carlo Ancelotti's side facing the hosts in Townsville on September 25 and Brisbane on September 29. Ancelotti named his first squad since the 2026 World Cup at the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday before addressing the media. Vinicius, Raphinha and Marquinhos form the experienced core of the squad, with Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes and Bruno Guimaraes also retaining their places. The much-anticipated game promises to be a grand spectacle for football-crazy Kolkata, with Brazil bringing three 2026 Ballon d'Or nominees in

India SAF Games participation in Pakistan guided by sports policy says MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said any decision on India's participation in the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games 2027 to be held in Pakistan is guided by the recent policy of the sports ministry. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said this in his response to a query at his media briefing, where he was asked about some reports related to India and the SAF Games. "Your second question about the news about India's participation in SAF Games. India's participation in any international tournament or a multilateral championship is guided by the recent policy that has been announced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. "And that policy is there in public domain, so please have a look at that. There we are guided by what directions or what the international bodies, sports bodies have to say on such matters, as also the interest of our sports people," Jaiswal said. Pakistan will host the SAF Games from April 3 to 11 across Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar next yea

India return to AFC U20 Asian Cup after 20 years with 3-0 win vs BAN

India qualified for the AFC U20 Asian Cup main tournament for the first time in 20 years after a commanding 3-0 win over Bangladesh in their final group match of the qualifying event here on Sunday. The win, their second in the qualifiers, took India to six points from three matches. They had to wait for the result of Syria vs Uzbekistan match played later on Sunday to know their fate. With Syria losing 0-3 to Uzbekistan, India finished second in Group B and qualified for the AFC U20 Asian Cup main tournament after 20 years as one of the seven best runners-up teams across the eight groups. India last played in the AFC U20 Asian Cup main tournament in 2006. Uzbekistan also qualified as group toppers with nine points. Syria finished third with three points, and bottom-placed Bangladesh were relegated to the Development Phase after losing all three games. The main tournament will be held in China from March 24 to April 10, 2027. Danny Meitei Laishram opened the scoring in the 25th min

Rankings don't matter, says Brazil legend Cafu ahead of IND vs BRA friendly

Brazil are currently ranked fifth in the world, while India are 138th, making the Kolkata fixture the highest-ranked opposition the Indian team has faced since the FIFA World Rankings were introduced

Here's why AIFF has preponed India vs Panama football match in Bengaluru

The match was originally scheduled for September 26, as part of India's three-match friendly series against South American teams, including Brazil and Uruguay

How fans can watch India's football matches vs Brazil, Panama and Uruguay

India will first face Panama at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru before travelling to Kolkata for back-to-back fixtures against Brazil and Uruguay on October 3 and 6

Here's why Jamil doesn't want the return of Chhetri in India national side

Jamil also stressed that players would have to take greater responsibility on the field, while acknowledging that the pressure would increase as the team prepares for important assignments

India name 26-member squad for Panama, Brazil and Uruguay friendlies

Indian men's football team head coach Khalid Jamil on Monday named a 26-member squad for next month's FIFA international window, with the Blue Tigers set to face Panama, Brazil and Uruguay in high-profile friendlies. India will take on Panama on September 26 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru before travelling to Kolkata to face five-time world champions Brazil on October 3 and two-time world champions Uruguay on October 6. All three opponents featured at the FIFA World Cup earlier this year, providing India with a stern test against higher-ranked opposition as Jamil looks to assess his squad ahead of the team's upcoming assignments. The national camp will begin in Bengaluru on September 14, with the team scheduled to travel to Kolkata on September 28 following the Panama game. The three-match series will be a major test for Jamil's young side, particularly against Brazil and Uruguay, two of the most decorated teams in international football. India's squad: Goalkeepers:

Chhetri admits envy as India set to face Brazil and Uruguay in friendlies

Former India captain Sunil Chhetri admitted he feels "a little jealous" watching the current generation get an opportunity to face footballing giants Brazil and Uruguay, saying he never got a chance to play against teams of such stature during his long international career. Chhetri, who was the face of Indian football for more than two decades before retiring from international football, said the prospect of India taking on top-ranked opposition was exciting but also made him envious as a spectator. "I feel a little jealous as a spectator. In my 24-26 years as a professional and nearly 20 years with the national team, I never got an opportunity like this," Chhetri told the All India Football Federation (AIFF). With India set to come up against Brazil and Uruguay in September, Chhetri hoped the players remain fit, compete with determination and make the most of the opportunity. The former striker also backed head coach and the coaching staff when asked about team selection and the .

Vijayan backs Brazil's India visit to inspire a new generation of players

Football legend I M Vijayan has expressed his excitement over the upcoming India-Brazil international friendly on October 3 in Kolkata, saying the visit to the country by the five-time World Cup-winning team will be a lifetime memory for young players. He said the Brazil team's visit would be a major positive development for Indian football and will bring global attention to the country, according a release from the All India Football Federation (AIFF). "The young players will play and gain experience, which is a very big thing. It will become a memory for them for the rest of their lives," said the former captain Vijayan who is regarded as one of the greatest footballers India has produced. "My football career ended a long time ago. Whatever I played, I played wholeheartedly. Now our players should enjoy the game," he said in the release, adding that hosting a team of Brazil's stature could help generate greater interest in football among people across the country. He also said, .

India to send separate teams for FIFA ASEAN Cup, Brazil clash in October

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Thursday decided to field two separate teams for the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup beginning late September and for the international friendly against Brazil on October 3 in Kolkata, a move opposed by former captain Bhaichung Bhutia. The FIFA ASEAN Cup, to be held during the international friendly window of September 21 to October 6, was introduced by the global governing body to elevate football in Southeast Asia by providing high-quality, competitive international matches. India, China and Hong Kong were invited for the tournament. China, however, declined the offer. India have been drawn into Group A of Division 1, or the Premier Division, for the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. The Blue Tigers will face Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in the group stage. But the FIFA-sanctioned tournament's dates clashed with the friendly match against Brazil on October 3 in Kolkata. "One of the principal decisions taken during the meeting was to confirm

India better placed in 64-team World Cup, but no guarantee, says Bhutia

A 64-team football World Cup, which the international governing body FIFA is mulling, will give India a better chance to qualify for the showpiece but such a move could compromise the quality of the games, Indian legend Bhaichung Bhutia said. An official proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, from 48 in the 2026 edition, was put forward by South American governing body CONMEBOL in April last year. FIFA has not taken a decision yet but its president Gianni Infantino recently said his organisation will examine the proposal after this World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Defending champions Argentina face Spain in the final on Sunday in New York. The 2030 edition will be mainly co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with the three opening matches to be played in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay to celebrate the centenary of the tournament. Uruguay hosted the first World Cup, in 1930. "From the perspective of an Indian football fan, I think it's a welcome move to have

Special Olympics Bharat chases historic Gothia Cup hat-trick in Sweden

Back-to-back champions Special Olympics Bharat head to Gothenburg aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive Gothia Special Olympics Trophy

India's Sports Passport: What it'll mean for football, Olympics and beyond

While discussions around overseas-origin athletes have existed for years, particularly in football, this is perhaps the first time the idea has been explored as part of a wider sports strategy.

AIFF agrees 'in principle' to 2-year club-led ISL model, Kickoff in Sep

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has agreed "in principle" to the club-led model of running the Indian Super League (ISL) for two years and has conveyed it to the sports minister, a top official said on Tuesday. The development appeared to have cleared the decks for the start of the 2026-27 season of the ISL in September as scheduled. AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan told PTI that a final agreement will be signed and formally announced on June 15 after "ironing out some details". He also said that 2026-27 ISL will begin on September 4. "We have agreed in principle to the proposal made by the ISL clubs and we have told this to the Sports Minister. The sports ministry also said it's okay. So, we will make a formal announcement on June 15. "We also have to see how it will work legally. So, there is no final agreement as of now. We have to work on some details and iron them out. That will happen in the next three-four days. "The kick-off for ISL is finalised, it wi

Unity Cup: Zimbabwe vs India preview, live match time and streaming

India could be without Ryan Williams after the forward reportedly suffered a hamstring injury during the semi-final defeat to Jamaica.

Indian football team lose 0-2 to Jamaica in semifinal of Unity Cup

The Indian men's football team lost 0-2 to Jamaica in the semifinals of the Unity Cup in London, making a disappointing debut appearance in the four-nation tournament. The short competition, which features two semifinals, a third-place play-off and the final, is being conducted at The Valley stadium, which is the home base of Charlton Athletic Football Club. On Wednesday night, Courtney Clarke's stunning early strike in the eighth minute and Kaheim Dixon's solo effort in the 78th minute ensured Jamaica's entry into the final. India will face Zimbabwe, who went down to Nigeria in the first semifinal on Tuesday, in the third-place play-off on Saturday, while Nigeria will meet Jamaica in a repeat of last year's final. The match marked several important individual moments. Noufal PN and Ricky Shabong made their senior national team debuts for Jamaica, while Edmund Lalrindika was handed his first-ever start for India. India were playing their first match on British soil since 2002 and

Unity Cup: Jamaica vs India preview, live match time and streaming

India's squad has been reduced following the withdrawal of several Mohun Bagan Super Giant players after the club recalled them from national duty.

India beat Pakistan 3-0 in SAFF U20 opener to book semifinal berth

A second-half brace from Omang Dodum guided India to a convincing 3-0 victory over Pakistan in their opening Group B match of the SAFF U20 Championship, earning them a semifinal berth here on Thursday. Dodum struck in the 64th and 88th minutes after Vishal Yadav had handed the Blue Colts an early advantage in the third minute. The win not only gave India a perfect start but also secured their place in the semi-finals. Pakistan, having lost both their matches after a defeat to Bangladesh two days before, are now eliminated from the competition. The top spot in Group B will be decided when India face Bangladesh on Saturday. India began on the front foot and created an opportunity within two minutes. Vishal Yadav surged down the right flank and delivered a dangerous cross into the box for Omang Dodum, but the forward was unable to convert. The breakthrough came moments later. Spotting Yadav's run, Gurnaj Singh Grewal lofted a ball over the Pakistan defence. The winger controlled it w

ISL 25/26: Braian's brace gives Bengaluru FC 3-1 victory over Inter Kashi

Braian Sanchez scored a brace to help Bengaluru FC register a 3-1 win over Inter Kashi FC in an Indian Super League match here on Sunday. The win took BFC to fourth position in the points table and three points behind the leaders, Mumbai City FC. Rahul Bheke achieved a personal milestone as he made his 100th appearance for BFC. Ashique Kuruniyan gave BFC the lead in the 20th minute before Sanchez struck in the 69th and 90+8th minute. Alfred Moya scored the lone goal for Inter Kashi in the 38th minute. BFC faced an early setback before kick-off, as Ryan Williams picked up a slight muscle strain during warmup and was replaced by Namgyal Bhutia on the flank for his first start in the ISL this season. After finding their rhythm and dominating possession in the opening minutes, BFC broke the deadlock in the 20th minute of the game, when Ashique pounced on a loose ball after an error from the Inter Kashi backline, and finished it off with a powerful left footed shot into the roof of the