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India failed to qualify for the 2027 FC Asian Cup:
The supporters of the Indian football team must have felt disheartened once more. India failed to qualify for the 2027 FC Asian Cup. They were unable to reach the main event of the forthcoming Asian Cup after suffering a 1-2 defeat to Singapore in the fourth match of the third round of the Asian Cup qualifying stage. Nevertheless, India has recently emerged as the leading nation in Asia in both cricket and hockey. The Indian cricket team triumphed in the final match on 28 September 2025, securing the title of Asia Cup Cricket champions. Just a few days prior, on 7 September 2025, the Indian hockey team claimed the championship of the Asia Cup Hockey and earned direct qualification for the 2026 Hockey World Cup. In summary, India has made us proud by achieving the status of the best in Asia in two team sports—hockey and cricket—this September. They not only failed to secure the football championship but also became champions in the Asia Cup Hockey and Asia Cup Cricket without suffering any defeats.
India was ahead of the other teams in its group in the ranking:
In the realm of team sports, particularly football, India has demonstrated a lack of prowess, as it failed to qualify for the 2027 FC Asian Cup, despite not being the leading nation in Asia. What is particularly astonishing is that during the third round of the Asian Cup qualifying phase, every other team in the group ranks lower than India according to FIFA rankings. Currently, India’s FIFA ranking stands at 134. In comparison, the other teams in the group have the following FIFA rankings: Hong Kong at 146, Singapore at 158, and Bangladesh at 184. Nevertheless, India has not succeeded in winning any of the four matches played in the group thus far. Consequently, India has been eliminated from the tournament with two matches remaining in the group stage!
New coaches take charge, but the situation of Indian football does not change:
Previously, the qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was also concluded in the group stage. Specifically, from Igor Štimac to Manolo Márquez, Khalid Jamil took over as the coach, yet the condition of Indian football has not seen any improvement. Nevertheless, under Khalid Jamil’s leadership, India recently secured third place in the CAFA Nations Cup. Furthermore, Manolo Márquez served as the coach during the initial two matches of the group in the Asian Cup qualifiers, meaning Khalid Jamil did not oversee all the matches; however, even with his guidance, India failed to qualify for the upcoming Asian Cup.
India’s performance in the qualifying round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
Previously, India was placed in Group A during the qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The top two teams from Group A, Qatar and Kuwait, advanced directly to the main stage of the 2027 Asian Cup and also progressed to the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification by securing first and second place, respectively. In this phase, India managed to win 1 out of 6 matches, drew 2, and lost 3, accumulating a total of 5 points and finishing third in the group, while Afghanistan ended up in fourth place. Consequently, with India and Afghanistan finishing third and fourth in the group, their prospects for the 2026 World Cup came to an end, necessitating their participation in the third round of the AFC Asian Cup qualifying round.
India’s performance in the qualifying round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup
Currently, India is situated in Group C of the third round of the AFC Asian Cup qualifying round. As of now, India has been eliminated from the forthcoming AFC Asian Cup after competing in 4 matches. In these four encounters, India has drawn two and lost two, placing them in fourth position with 2 points, and the outcomes of the remaining two matches hold no significance.
India’s performance in the 2019 and 2023 Asian Cups:
Competing in the World Cup of football represents a dream for Indian football enthusiasts. Consequently, this AFC Asian Cup is nearly equivalent to a World Cup for these fans. India successfully qualified for the main stage of the last two AFC Asian Cups, specifically the 2019 Asian Cup and the 2023 Asian Cup. However, in both instances, India was eliminated during the group stage of the Asian Cup’s main phase. Nevertheless, it still had the chance to compete against the top teams in Asia. Unfortunately, this time, that opportunity will be absent.
What remains for Indian football enthusiasts?
Now, what remains for Indian football enthusiasts? They possess the SAFF Championship, which serves as a competition for teams from South Asia. With every team ranked below India, which has secured the championship title nine times, they stand at the forefront.
Additionally, there exists a club-based competition. The Super Cup, ISLA, and the fervent support for Mohun Bagan or East Bengal are notable. At times, it appears that in a nation where the national football team’s performance shows no signs of improvement, creating a buzz around club football seems futile. The priority should be the country, followed by the club. In Spain, the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona can generate excitement due to the national team’s achievements. Similarly, in Argentina, the Boca Juniors-River Plate rivalry thrives because of the national team’s success. While it is unrealistic to expect the Indian football team to reach the heights of Spain or Argentina, there is hope for progress from the current state. In light of the national team’s recent performance, is it appropriate for us to become overly enthusiastic about the Mohun Bagan-East Bengal rivalry? Certainly, Bengalis have a deep passion for football, and in the absence of national team success, perhaps the clubs become a source of hope. However, if the national team continues to falter, fans may also lose interest in these club competitions.
Can’t a magic moment happen in Indian football?
Our national team has historically achieved significant success in hockey, a trend that continues to this day. Consequently, hockey ranks as the second most popular sport in India, following cricket. In the realm of cricket, the Indian team has shown consistent improvement since their victory in the 1983 Cricket World Cup. Might we anticipate a comparable breakthrough for the Indian football team that could signal the beginning of its advancement?
I have uploaded a video on YouTube related to the topic discussed in this blog, and you can find the link to that video here: