Indian Football

East Bengal beat Nejmeh 3-2 to enter AFC Challenge League quarters

Dimitrios Diamantakos' brace fired East Bengal FC into the knockout stage of the AFC Challenge League 2024-25 as the ISL side edged past Nejmeh SC of Lebanon 3-2 in their final Group A match here Friday. East Bengal finished as the Group A winners on seven points to seal progression. The Red and Golds had won 4-0 against Bashundhara Kings (Bangladesh) and drawn 2-2 with Paro FC (Bhutan) in their first two fixtures. East Bengal, who trailed Nejmeh by two points heading into this encounter, took the lead in the eighth minute when Madih Talal's corner kick was inadvertently headed into his own net by Baba Musah at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu. The Indian side took further advantage of Nejmeh's slow start to double their advantage in the 15th minute when Diamantakos scored for the third consecutive match when he prodded home a low cross from Mahesh Naorem. A shell-shocked Nejmeh, who had won their two earlier matches, fought back to quickly pull one back three minutes later wh

ISL 2024-25: Bengaluru FC aims to ride on unbeaten form to outwit FC Goa

Bengaluru FC and FC Goa are set to rekindle their animating rivalry when they clash during an Indian Super League (ISL) match here on Saturday. A battle of two former champions, they have had contrasting forms this season. However, given the amount of talented players in their arsenal, coupled with the rivalry, it is expected to be another thriller. While FC Goa is decent at home, it has been winless in its previous four home ties -- its longest such streak in the ISL. However, the Gaurs can take one positive from their head coach, Manolo Marquez, who has had an admirable record versus BFC, having not lost in an outing against the Blues in his eight face-offs. Bengaluru and East Bengal FC are the two teams that he has faced at least thrice so far in the ISL, but he is yet to lose. The Blues presently are on 16 points from six outings -- their second-best start to an ISL season - only behind the 2018-19 campaign when they finished atop the table. This season, they have won in five

ISL 24-25: Bengaluru FC bag 3-1 victory against Kerala Blasters FC

Bengaluru FC notched their fifth win of the Indian Super League with a clinical 3-1 victory against Kerala Blasters FC here on Friday. In an encounter where the Blues conceded their first goal of the campaign, they held their nerves and capitalised upon the openings to breakthrough the Kerala Blasters FC backline and inflict upon them a loss in front of a rousing home crowd. The Gerard Zaragoza-coached side laid the foundation of this incredible outing within the first 10 minutes of the clash. Argentine striker Jorge Pereyra Diaz has been a bundle of energy for them upfront in this season and it was his relentless high-press that handed them the integral lead in the eighth minute. As Kerala Blasters FC aimed to build attacks gradually from the back, Diaz charged up ahead with sheer pace to pressurise Pritam Kotal into losing the possession. The former Kerala Blasters forward then carefully dribbled the ball ahead and lobbed it over goalkeeper Som Kumar to get his team ahead in the

India eye top spot, Bangladesh seek crucial draw in SAFF showdown

With a semifinal spot already secured, India will look to reaffirm their dominance when they take on Bangladesh in their final Group A match of the SAFF Women's Championship here on Wednesday. For Bangladesh, a win would hand them them the top spot in Group A. As things stand now, India lead the table with three points, while second-placed Bangladesh have a superior goal difference (0) against Pakistan (-3), with both teams sitting on one point each. A draw would leave Bangladesh as group runners-up with two points. The Blue Tigresses clinched their place in the semifinals with a commanding 5-2 victory over Pakistan but now their focus shifts to topping the group and avenging a painful memory of 2022. In that edition, Bangladesh dealt a shocking blow on India by ending their unbeaten streak in the championship with a decisive 3-0 win in the group stage. It marked the first time India had lost to their South Asian rivals in SAFF history, and the Blue Tigresses will be eager to set

Premier League: Manchester City vs Fulham live time (IST) and streaming

The Cottagers can prove to be challenging opponents for City, with the visitors getting more time to prepare for the clash as well

Anwar Ali an asset for India, must stay away from controversy - Chhetri

Former captain Sunil Chhetri on Thursday termed centre back Anwar Ali an "asset" for Indian football while urging players across the spectrum to stay away from controversies as much as possible. Anwar was handed a four-month ban by All India Football Federation (AIFF) in early September with the governing body holding the player "guilty" of terminating his contract with Mohun Bagan in an unjust manner and signing a new deal with East Bengal, having returned to his parent club Delhi FC. AIFF also sought a compensation amounting to Rs 12.90 crore from Delhi FC and East Bengal. "I do not know the nitty-gritty of the thing. I don't know exactly what happened. Just purely on Anwar, because I love him and he knows it, he's one of the assets of the national team. I would want him to stay away from controversies as much as possible," Chhetri told PTI in an exclusive interview. However, AIFF's Player Status Committee issued him a No Objection Certificate following a directive by the Delhi H

Football icon Sunil Chhetri becomes top goal-scorer in ISL history

Chhetri who announced his retirement from international football this year, in June, has continued to contribute for his club

Cherian leads India's challenge to qualify for 1st AFC U-20 Asian Cup

Defender Thomas Cherian will lead India in their bid to qualify for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup for the first time, as they face Mongolia in their Group G opener here on Wednesday. India reached Vientiane on Monday evening, and after a night's rest, coach Ranjan Chaudhuri convened the squad to announce Cherian as the captain. The top teams from each group, along with the five best second-placed teams from 10 groups will qualify for the tournament proper. "We have a great responsibility from our nation, and we've prepared well for it. The mindset of the boys is extremely good, and we just have to do our job with a positive mindset," said the young Indian defender. Coach Chaudhuri said they have been preparing for three months and it's time for the real action and start well. "We've been preparing well for the last three months, and the boys are ready for the challenge," said Chaudhuri. "Of course, our aim is to qualify for the AFC U20 Asian Cup for the first time, which will set a grea

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.