Author: Rahul Giri

The 2025–26 season of the Indian Super League (ISL) is set to be conducted in two or three centralised venues, with clubs and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) yet to arrive at a final roadmap regarding finances, broadcast rights and continental qualification. The key developments emerged from a meeting held on Sunday between AIFF officials and representatives of the ISL clubs. Although AIFF committee member and IFA secretary Anirban Dutta had earlier indicated that the upcoming season could begin on February 5, no definitive start date was finalised. The uncertainty stems from unresolved issues surrounding the league’s operational structure,…

African football has always been a stage for extraordinary stories, but few in recent memory match the emotional power of Georgi Minoungou’s journey. On a dramatic night at the Africa Cup of Nations, the 23-year-old winger rose above adversity to script one of the tournament’s most stirring moments, scoring a stoppage-time equaliser for Burkina Faso against Equatorial Guinea and sparking a comeback that will long be remembered. When Minoungou found the net in the 95th minute, it was more than just a goal. It was the culmination of a battle few footballers ever have to fight. A battle against the…

In a significant step toward resolving the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Indian Super League, the All India Football Federation has presented a detailed long-term proposal before the clubs, outlining a new governance, operational and financial structure for the league. The proposal was presented during a meeting convened to address concerns raised by clubs over the lack of clarity in the league’s future roadmap. Under the proposed model, the ISL would be owned and operated by the AIFF for a 20-year period, with each season running from June 1 to May 31. At the end of this cycle, all…

The year 2025 will be remembered as one of sharp contrasts in Indian football, a season that swung between historic achievements and deep-rooted structural failures. While Indian football celebrated unprecedented success in the women’s game and promising strides at the youth level, the men’s senior team endured one of its most turbulent phases in recent memory. As the year draws to a close, it leaves behind a complex narrative of hope, frustration, resilience and unanswered questions. Men’s National Team: A Year of Regression For the Indian men’s national team, 2025 proved to be a bruising chapter. The year began with…

The Indian Super League (ISL) clubs have formally sought greater clarity from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on both the immediate and long-term structure of the competition ahead of the key meeting on Friday. In a letter addressed to the AIFF, ISL clubs, through Mohun Bagan Super Giant CEO Vinay Chopra, reiterated the need for a clearer roadmap before any decision is taken on the upcoming season. The communication comes ahead of a crucial meeting scheduled for December 26, where representatives of the clubs and the federation are expected to discuss the way forward. The committee, constituted by the…

The Africa Cup of Nations continued to deliver high drama and strong talking points on and off the pitch, as several heavyweights opened their campaigns while debate around the tournament’s timing once again took centre stage. Nigeria forward Samuel Chukwueze was vocal in his defence of the tournament, insisting the AFCON deserves the same respect as the World Cup or European Championship. Speaking ahead of Nigeria’s campaign, the Fulham winger said criticism of the competition’s scheduling was misplaced. “Everyone wants to play in AFCON. It’s one of the best competitions in the world,” Chukwueze said. “You have to respect it…

Indian football is facing one of its most turbulent phases in recent years, and the impending exit of the City Football Group (CFG) from Mumbai City FC has only intensified concerns about the sport’s long-term stability in the country. With the year drawing to a close, there is still no clarity on when the Indian Super League will begin, a competition that traditionally kicks off in September. The uncertainty follows the expiry of the 15-year commercial agreement between the All India Football Federation and Football Sports Development Limited, after which the federation has failed to attract any bids for the…

Elections of all National Sports Federations (NSFs) will be postponed by a year to facilitate smooth implementation of the newly-introduced National Sports Governance (NSG) Act. This decision will also impact the All India Football Federation (AIFF). In a letter issued on Monday to the president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and all NSFs, the sports ministry informed that elections scheduled in the coming months will be deferred until December 31, 2026. The move has been described as a transitional arrangement to allow federations adequate time to align their structures with the provisions of the NSG Act. As a result,…

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) convened its Executive Committee (ExCo) meeting and Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Football House in New Delhi. Both meetings were chaired by Kalyan Chaubey, AIFF President. During the AGM, a proposal concerning the future structure of the Indian Super League (ISL), submitted by 10 clubs, was presented by Mohun Bagan Super Giant CEO Mr. Vinay Chopra. As the clubs’ demand to manage the league in perpetuity evoked mixed reactions from the house, the federation decided to constitute a three-member committee to explore a consensus. The committee comprises Kerala Football…

Argentina enter Group J as clear favourites. The defending champions are widely expected to progress from the group with relative ease. History, however, serves as a reminder that World Cups rarely follow scripts. Just four years ago, Argentina began their title-winning campaign with a stunning defeat to Saudi Arabia before regrouping in magnificent fashion to lift the trophy in Qatar. This time around, Lionel Scaloni’s side looks far more settled. While Argentina are strong contenders to top the group, the real intrigue lies in the race behind them. Austria, Algeria and Jordan will all believe they have a chance to…