Author: Rahul Giri

The latest round of FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers delivered one of the most remarkable nights in recent football history, as tiny island nation Curacao produced a fairytale of their own while Haiti, Scotland, Spain and Switzerland secured their places on the sport’s grandest stage. Curacao became the smallest nation ever to qualify for a FIFA World Cup, writing an extraordinary new chapter in global football. With a population of just around 156,000, the Caribbean island surpassed Iceland’s previous record to become the least populated country to ever book a World Cup berth. The qualification was sealed after a dramatic…

-Rahul Giri Bangladesh edged past India 1–0 in their AFC Asian Cup Qualifier at a packed Bangladesh National Stadium in Dhaka – their first win over India in more than two decades with the last coming in the 2003 SAFF Championship semi-final at the same venue. The hosts’ resurgence in recent years, sparked by the arrival of Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury, followed by the introduction of talents like Shamit Shome and Zayaan Ahmed, has significantly boosted domestic interest. Matchday turnouts have surged, jersey sales have risen, and brands have shown renewed enthusiasm. Yet, results had not followed – with…

After 22 years, India will once again face Bangladesh in Dhaka, with their last meeting on Bangladeshi soil coming during the 2003 SAFF Gold Cup, where the hosts clinched a 2–1 win at the same venue. While the upcoming match holds no significance in the race for qualification to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup (both teams were eliminated last month), the fixture still carries weight. Whenever India and Bangladesh meet, it promises a fierce, emotionally-charged contest—one that has earned the tag of the South Asian Derby. In the last five meetings, India have won once, while the other four ended…

The crisis surrounding the Indian Super League continues to escalate, with multiple clubs suspending operations as the domestic football ecosystem reels from the All India Football Federation’s failure to secure a commercial partner for the league. The turbulence began after the introduction of the Supreme Court–mandated AIFF Constitution, following which the federation issued a Request for Qualification (RFQ) that required bidders to commit ₹37.5 crore annually or 5% of gross revenue to acquire ISL’s commercial rights. The steep financial expectations have resulted in zero bidders, plunging Indian football into a state of uncertainty. As the bidding process collapsed, panic…

Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza and his entire backroom staff have parted ways with the club, adding to the deepening crisis engulfing Indian football. The Spanish manager, who guided the Blues to last season’s ISL Cup final, is set to join a Greek club, according to reports. His exit comes at a time when the future of the Indian Super League (ISL) remains clouded with uncertainty following the AIFF’s failed tender process. Zaragoza’s departure is symbolic of a broader instability that has gripped the domestic landscape. Several ISL clubs, including Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Kerala Blasters, have suspended…

The ongoing uncertainty surrounding Indian football has reached a breaking point, with players, coaches, and club officials from both the Indian Super League (ISL) and I-League expressing grave concern over the current deadlock. Many have issued statements urging the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to act swiftly and resume domestic football activities, emphasising that their livelihoods depend on it. Recognising the urgency of the situation, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey called for an emergency virtual meeting on Wednesday evening with ISL club CEOs, I-League CEOs, team captains, and senior footballers to discuss possible solutions. However, while ISL representatives attended, I-League…

The ongoing crisis in Indian football has deepened further, with Kerala Blasters FC becoming the latest club to suspend first-team operations following the All India Football Federation’s failure to secure a commercial partner for the Indian Super League. The Kochi-based outfit had begun pre-season preparations ahead of the Super Cup, signing new foreign players and assembling the squad on the back of the AIFF’s assurances that the ISL would kick off in December. However, with the federation unable to attract a single bid for the league’s commercial rights despite extending the tender deadline to November 7, the club has now…

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is preparing to move the Supreme Court this week, seeking modifications to the existing constitutional framework governing the Indian Super League (ISL) after its commercial rights tender failed to attract a single bid. Justice L Nageswara Rao, appointed by the apex court to oversee the AIFF’s functioning, met with senior officials on Sunday to discuss the crisis. The federation is expected to file its report before the court on Tuesday. The latest development comes amid growing instability in Indian football, with several ISL clubs halting operations following the collapse of the tender process. Reigning…

The delay by the All India Football Federation in finding a new commercial partner for the Indian Super League has once again brought operations at several ISL clubs to a standstill. Most clubs have either suspended training or are awaiting clarity on the league’s future, following AIFF’s failure to attract any bids for the ISL tender. Earlier, the AIFF had assured clubs that it would expedite the process of appointing a commercial partner to organise the ISL. Based on that assurance, clubs resumed operations and even agreed to participate in the ongoing Super Cup. However, uncertainty has returned after…

In what could be a defining moment for Indian football, Australian-born winger Ryan Williams is all set to wear the Indian jersey for the very first time. The 31-year-old Bengaluru FC star has been called up for India’s preparatory camp ahead of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier against Bangladesh in Dhaka on November 18. Williams, who recently completed his citizenship process, now holds an Indian passport and is eligible to represent the Blue Tigers under FIFA regulations. Speaking exclusively to RevSportz, he opened up about what it means to become an Indian footballer, his family legacy, and the journey that…