Indian National Football Team Overview

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The Indian national football team, also known as the Blue Tigers, holds a significant place in the vibrant tapestry of Indian sports. Representing a country of over a billion people, the team plays a crucial role in fostering a sense of national pride and unity. Despite facing challenges and stiff competition on the international stage, the team has exhibited resilience and determination, steadily progressing in its performance over the years. The Indian football scene has witnessed a resurgence, with the team making notable strides in regional competitions and gradually gaining recognition on the global platform.

Led by a mix of seasoned veterans and emerging talents, the Indian national football team showcases a diverse array of skills and styles. The team’s journey is marked by a commitment to developing grassroots football, nurturing young talents, and fostering a culture of sportsmanship. As football gains popularity across the country, the Blue Tigers continue to inspire the next generation of players, serving as ambassadors for the sport and contributing to the ongoing evolution of Indian football.

The History And Creating Of The Indian National Football Team

1920s-1930s: Foundation and Early Years. 

In 1924, under the leadership of Gostha Pal, the Indian football team embarked on its first known official international tour, featuring a mix of Indian and British players. This journey marked a significant milestone in the team’s early history, setting the stage for future international engagements.

Furthermore, football teams comprising solely Indian players began touring various countries in the late 1930s, including visits to Australia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand. The match against Ceylon in 1933, which the Indian team won 1–0, stands as one of the earliest documented international matches before India gained independence.

In 1937, India established its national football team and played its first international match against Burma in July 1937, marking the inception of organized international football in the country.

1940s-1950s: Post-Independence Strides

• 1948: India participates in the London Olympics, showcasing its football talent on a global platform shortly after gaining independence.
• 1951: India secures a historic gold medal at the inaugural Asian Games held in New Delhi, beating Iran in the final. This triumph became a landmark moment in Indian football history.
• 1952: The team competes in the Helsinki Olympics, making its mark and contributing to the global recognition of Indian football.

1960s-1970s: Regional Success and Asian Cup

• 1962: India wins the gold medal at the Jakarta Asian Games, reinforcing its dominance in South Asian football.
• 1964: Reaches the final of the AFC Asian Cup, held in Israel, finishing as runners-up and achieving the team’s best performance in the tournament to date.

1970s: The team actively participates in prestigious tournaments like the Merdeka Cup and the King’s Cup, gaining valuable exposure and experience against diverse opponents.

1980s-1990s: Decline and Period of Struggle

• 1984: India experienced a decline in football prominence, and the mid-1980s became a challenging period for the national team.
• 1993: India withdraws from the 1994 World Cup qualifiers, marking a low point in its international football participation.

2000s: Resurgence and AFC Challenge Cup Triumph

• 2008: India experiences a resurgence by winning the AFC Challenge Cup in the Maldives under coach Bob Houghton, earning a spot in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. This victory became a turning point in modern Indian football history.
• 2010s: AFC Asian Cup Return and Emerging Talents

2011: Participates in the AFC Asian Cup after a 27-year hiatus, showcasing the team’s resilience and determination on the continental stage.

2018: Under coach Stephen Constantine, India lifts the Intercontinental Cup, highlighting the emergence of new talents and a renewed focus on development. The tournament is held in Mumbai, and India beats Kenya in the final.

2020s: Ongoing Journey and Development

The national team continues to participate in regional competitions like the SAFF Championship and AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, with a focus on nurturing emerging talents and fostering a culture of sustained success.

2023: The Indian football team embarks on the qualification journey for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, aiming to make history by securing a spot in the prestigious tournament.

Results Of The Indian Football Team

Through the years, The Indian football team played in different championships. Here are the best results: 

Championship	Best Ranking	Year Achieved
FIFA World Cup	Not Qualified	–
AFC Asian Cup	Runners-up	1964
AFC Challenge Cup	Champions	2008
SAFF Championship	Champions	Multiple
Intercontinental Cup	Champions	2018
Asian Games	Gold Medal	1951
Olympic Games	Fourth Place	1956
Nehru Cup	Champions	Multiple
King’s Cup	Champions	1976

Now, let’s know more about the results. 

In The FIFA World Cup

The Indian football team performed poorly in the World Cup. Since 1950, the team has attempted to qualify 10 times. But unsuccessfully.

Here is a table summarizing the FIFA World Rankings for the Indian national football team from 1992 to 2023:

Rank	Year	Games Played	Won	Drawn	Lost
99	2023	11	7	4	0
106	2022	8	3	1	4
105	2021	12	5	5	2
104	2020	0	0	0	0
108	2019	13	2	7	4
97	2018	12	6	2	4
105	2017	9	7	2	0
135	2016	6	4	0	2
166	2015	12	5	2	5
171	2014	2	0	1	1
154	2013	12	5	2	5
166	2012	11	2	2	7
162	2011	19	7	5	7
142	2010	9	2	0	7
134	2009	6	2	1	3
143	2008	12	8	3	1
143	2007	7	4	1	2
157	2006	6	0	0	6
127	2005	10	5	2	3
132	2004	10	3	2	5
127	2003	8	2	2	4
127	2002	2	1	1	0
121	2001	8	3	2	3
122	2000	4	1	1	2
106	1999	13	8	2	3
110	1998	7	1	1	5
112	1997	8	3	3	2
120	1996	5	1	1	3
121	1995	8	3	3	2
109	1994	4	1	0	3
100	1993	16	11	3	2
143	1992	2	1	0	1

In The Asian Football Cup (AFC)

AFC stands for the Asian Football Confederation, which is the governing body for association football (soccer) in Asia. It is one of the six continental football confederations recognized by FIFA, the international governing body for football.

Since the AFC was created in 1956, India has qualified for five championships: in 1964, 1984, 2011, 2019, and 2023. The results were next: 

• In 1964, India participated in the AFC Asian Cup. The tournament was held in Israel, and India finished as the runners-up, reaching the final but narrowly missing out on the title.
• In 1984, India participated in the AFC Asian Cup held in Singapore. However, the team faced challenges and did not advance to the later stages of the competition.
• The 2011 AFC took place in Qatar. It marked India’s return to the tournament after a 27-year absence. The team faced strong opposition in the group stage, including Australia, South Korea, and Bahrain. India did not progress beyond the group stage but gained valuable experience in the tournament.
• In 2019, India participated in the AFC Asian Cup held in the United Arab Emirates in 2019. The team was placed in a challenging group with the UAE, Bahrain, and Thailand. India showed resilience but did not advance to the knockout stages.
• Matches for AFC 2023 will start in January 2024. 

In The Asian Games

The Indian football team competes in the Asian Games in every competition. The Indian team’s best years were between 1950 and 1982. India won first place in 1951 and 1962, and bronze in 1970. Also, once the Indian footballer Sheoo Mewalal received the title of the best: for 3 goals in 1953.

In 1982, India ranked 6th. Since then the team has dropped to the bottom of the league table, and in 40 years the highest place was 9th, in 2022.

In The Summer Olympics

The Indian football team participated in 4 Summer Olympics: from 1948 to 1960. The results are as follows:

• 1948: 11th place
• 1952: 25th place
• 1956: 4th place
• 1960: 13th place

In The SAFF

There are seven teams in the South Asian Football Federation Championship. Within the SAFF, India is the most successful team. She has won the SAFF Cup 9 times. It has happened four times in recent years: in 2011, 2015, 2021, and 2023.

Indian National Football Team Current Players

In the last championship — Asian Games in September-October 2023 — the Indian national football team included the following players: 

Name	Role	Year of Birth	Indian local team
Gurmeet Singh	Goalkeeper	December 3, 1999	RoundGlass Punjab FC
Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem	Goalkeeper	July 4, 2000	ATK Mohun
Sumit Rathi	Defender	Nov 26, 2001	ATK Mohun Bagan
Narender Gahlot	Defender	Nov 12, 1999	Kerala Blasters FC
Deepak Tangri	Defender	Aug 26, 1999	Odisha FC
Sandesh Jhingan	Defender	July 21, 1993	ATK Mohun Bagan
Chinglensana Singh	Defender	Dec 30, 1996	Hyderabad FC
Lalchungnunga	Defender	Nov 17, 2000	Mumbai City FC
Amarjit Singh Kiyam	Midfielder	Jan 6, 2001	Odisha FC
Samuel James Lyngdoh	Midfielder	Jul 10, 1996	SC East Bengal
Rahul KP	Midfielder	Nov 15, 2000	Kerala Blasters FC
Abdul Rabeeh	Midfielder	Mar 10, 1999	Kerala Blasters FC
Ayush Dev Chhetri	Midfielder	Feb 15, 2000	Mumbai City FC
Bryce Miranda	Midfielder	Jul 22, 1999	FC Goa
Azfar Noorani	Midfielder	Dec 7, 1999	SC East Bengal
Vincy Barretto	Midfielder	Oct 22, 1998	ATK Mohun Bagan
Sunil Chhetri	Forward, Captain	Aug 3, 1984	Bengaluru FC
Rahim Ali	Forward	May 6, 1999	ATK Mohun Bagan
Rohit Danu	Forward	Feb 20, 2002	Hyderabad FC
Gurkirat Singh	Forward	Aug 30, 2002	NorthEast United FC
Aniket Jadhav	Forward	Feb 5, 2000	Jamshedpur FC

Indian National Football Team Captain

Sunil Chhetri took over the captaincy of the Indian national football team on several occasions over the years. Here are some key points about the dates when Sunil Chhetri assumed the captaincy: Sunil Chhetri first captained the Indian national football team in 2012. During this period, he led the team in various international matches, contributing to India’s performances on the field. Over the years, Sunil Chhetri has become the longest-serving captain of the Indian national football team. Sunil also leads in the number of goals scored (93) for the national team.

Indian National Football Team Coach

Igor Štimac was appointed as the head coach of the Indian national football team on May 15, 2019. His hiring followed the departure of Stephen Constantine.

Before transitioning to coaching, Štimac had a distinguished playing career as a central defender. He represented the Croatian national team and played a key role in their journey to the 1998 FIFA World Cup semi-finals. Štimac is known for promoting an attacking style of football. He emphasized possession-based play and encouraged the team to be proactive on the field.

Before taking charge of the Indian team, Štimac had coaching experience at various levels. He managed clubs in Croatia and other countries and served as the head coach of the Croatian national team from 2012 to 2013.

Under Štimac’s guidance, the Indian team participated in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The team faced challenging opponents in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualification rounds intending to secure a place in the FIFA World Cup.

Conclusion

In conclusion, football in India is not as popular as cricket. This may be the reason why the Indian national football team has never performed well anywhere outside the Asian leagues. Professional footballers, even those playing for the national team, are paid very little compared to professional cricketers: the maximum salary for the national team in 2023 is 80 lakh. For comparison: this is the amount a promising newcomer in the IPL can receive.

However, the Indian team continues to develop and compete. Now it has a young squad: the experienced team captain is the only one older than 1993. And the average age of players is about 24-25 years. Therefore, there is a chance that the Indian national football team will show better results in future championships.

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