India’s participation in the football competitions at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan has been thrown into serious doubt after the Sports Ministry announced stringent eligibility norms for team sports.
According to the revised guidelines, only teams ranked inside the top eight in Asia or those who have secured a quarterfinal finish in the last Asian Cup will be cleared for the continental showpiece. The Indian men’s team, currently ranked 24th in Asia and 134th globally, does not meet the requirement. The women’s team, ranked 12th in Asia, also falls short but retain a slim chance to qualify by finishing among the top eight at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia next March.
This is not the first time such regulations have curtailed India’s participation. The men’s squad was denied entry to the 2018 Asian Games and only travelled to Hangzhou in 2023 after the government relaxed the rules at the last minute. While the women exited in the group stage last time, the men’s run ended in the Round of 16 against Saudi Arabia.
Historically, India’s men’s team enjoyed success in the Asian Games, clinching gold in 1951 and 1962 and bronze in 1970. But since reaching the quarterfinals in 1982, consistent results have been hard to come by.
A Setback for the U-23s
The new guidelines come as a significant blow to India’s U-23 men’s team, which impressed during the recent AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in Qatar. Despite narrowly missing out on qualification, their spirited displays against Bahrain and hosts Qatar drew praise and instilled belief. For the young squad and their head coach, the Asian Games represented a rare chance to compete against the continent’s elite, sharpen their skills through preparatory camps, and arrange friendlies with stronger opponents. That dream now stands shattered unless the government once again relaxes the rules.
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