India national football team: Difference between revisions

India
	Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)	The Blue Tigers
Association	All India Football Federation (AIFF)
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation	SAFF (South Asia)
Head coach	Igor Štimac
Captain	Sunil Chhetri
Most caps	Sunil Chhetri (143)
Top scorer	Sunil Chhetri (93)
Home stadium	Various
FIFA code	IND
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing First colours	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	Template:FIFA World Rankings
Highest	94 (February 1996)
Lowest	173 (March 2015)
First international
	Pre-independence:; Australia 5–3 India Error creating thumbnail: File missing; (Sydney, Australia; 3 September 1938); Post-independence:; India 1–2 France Error creating thumbnail: File missing; (London, England; 31 July 1948)
Biggest win
	Sri Lanka Error creating thumbnail: File missing 0–7 India; (India; 7 December 1963)
Biggest defeat
	Template:Country data YUG 10–1 India; (Helsinki, Finland; 15 July 1952)
Summer Olympics
Appearances	4 (first in 1948)
Best result	Semi-finals (1956)
Asian Cup
Appearances	5 (first in 1964)
Best result	Runners-up (1964)
Asian Games
Appearances	11 (first in 1951)
Best result	Champions (1951, 1962)
SAFF Championship
Appearances	13 (first in 1993)
Best result	Champions (1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2011, 2015, 2021, 2023)
Medal record
Men's football
Asian Cup
Asian Games
SAFF Championship

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VisualWikitext

Latest revision as of 04:59, 14 October 2023

The India national football team represents India in international football and is governed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and is under the global jurisdiction of FIFA. It is governed in Asia by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and in South Asia by South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) — both of which were co-founded by the Indian team's supervising body, the AIFF.^[4]^[5]

The team, which was once considered one of the best teams in Asia, had its golden era during the 1950s and early 1960s. During this period, under the coaching of Syed Abdul Rahim, India won the gold medal at the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games while finishing fourth at the 1956 Summer Olympics. India has never participated in the FIFA World Cup, although they did qualify by default for the 1950 World Cup after all other nations in their qualification group withdrew. However, India withdrew prior to the beginning of the tournament. The team has also appeared four times in the AFC Asian Cup, Asia's top football championship and finished as runners-up in 1964. India also participates in the SAFF Championship, the top regional football competition in South Asia. They have won the tournament record nine times since its inception in 1993.

In the 21st century, besides the SAFF Championship triumphs, under the guidance of Bob Houghton, India won the Nehru Cup in 2007, 2009 and the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup. The Challenge Cup victory allowed India to once again qualify for the Asian Cup after 27 years.

History[edit | edit source]

Early years (1930s–1940s)[edit | edit source]

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In the top image, Indian team (in white jersey) and all European team (in black jersey), together before a match held in Calcutta on 1 July 1938. In bottom image, India side that participated in the 1948 Olympics' match against France.

The first known official international tour of the Indian team, which at that time consisted of both Indian and British players, was in 1924 when it was led by Indian footballer Gostha Pal.^[6]

Football teams consisting of entirely Indian players started to tour Australia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand during the late 1930s. The first international match India played before independence is yet to be verified, but they are known to have played Ceylon in 1933, winning 1–0.^[6]^[7]^[8]

In the year 1937, India carried out a lengthy tour of Australia at the request of the Australian Football Association. From August to October, they played 17 matches against various state, district, and club teams, and 5 friendly matches against the Australian national team.^[9] The first of these, on 3 September in Sydney, is India's first international game to be recognised by FIFA, and ended in a 5–3 defeat.^[9] After drawing the second match in Brisbane 4–4, India won the third match at Newcastle 4–1 to claim their first international win.^[10]

The national team played their first match as an independent nation in the first round of the 1948 Summer Olympics against France, in a 2–1 defeat. Famously, the Indian team did not wear boots, playing either barefoot or in socks, something that would be banned by FIFA later in the year.^[11]^[12]^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Golden years (1950s–1960s)[edit | edit source]

In 1950, India managed to qualify for the 1950 FIFA World Cup, which was scheduled to take place in Brazil, after all the other teams in their qualifying group withdrew. However, India themselves withdrew from the tournament shortly before it began; officially, this was due to travel costs, but FIFA had offered to pay the team's travel expenses, and the real reason behind their withdrawal has been widely speculated in the decades since.^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16] While it was commonly believed that India withdrew due to FIFA's ban on playing barefoot, the team's captain at that time, Sailen Manna, insisted that this was not the case; it is now generally accepted that India withdrew simply because they valued the Olympics more than the World Cup and did not view the latter is being prestigious enough to justify taking part.^[12]^[17] Since then, India have yet to qualify for another World Cup.^[18]

India national team playing against Australia at Olympic Park stadium, Melbourne in 1956 Olympics — Indian team at a tussle against Bulgaria at the 1956 Olympics.

Despite not participating in the World Cup in 1950, the following years until 1964 are usually considered to be the "golden era" of the Indian football.^[19] India, coached by Hyderabad City Police head coach Syed Abdul Rahim,^[20] became one of the best teams in Asia.^[21]^[22] In March 1951, Rahim led India to their first ever triumph during the 1951 Asian Games, hosted in India. The team defeated Iran 1–0 in the gold medal match to win their first trophy.^[23]^[24] Sahu Mewalal scored the winning goal for India in that match.^[23] The following year, India competed in the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, but were unused to the cold conditions^[11] and lost 10–1 to Yugoslavia.^[25] Following this defeat, the AIFF made it mandatory for footballers to wear boots.^[11] After taking the defeat in Helsinki Finland, India participated in various minor tournaments, such as the Colombo Cup, which they won four times from 1952 to 1955.^[26]

In 1954, India returned to the Asian Games as defending champions in Manila. Despite their achievement three years prior, India was unable to go past the group stage as the team finished second in Group C during the tournament, two points behind Indonesia.^[27] Two years later, at the 1956 Summer Olympics, India went on to achieve the team's greatest result in a competitive tournament. The team finished in fourth place during the Summer Olympics football tournament, losing the bronze-medal match to Bulgaria 3–0. The tournament is also known for Neville D'Souza's hat-trick against Australia in the quarterfinals. D'Souza's hat-trick was the first scored by an Asian in Olympic history.^[28] India defeated Australia by 4–2 in that match at the Olympic Park Stadium.^[28]

India national football team photo session before 1960 Olympics

Indian team at the 1960 Olympics, Coach Syed Abdul Rahim at the front row centre and captain P. K. Banerjee on his right side.

After their good performance during the Summer Olympics, India participated in the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo. The team once again finished fourth, losing the bronze-medal match to Indonesia 4–1.^[29] The next year the team travelled to Malaysia where they took part in the 1959 Merdeka tournament and finished as the tournament runners-up.^[30]

India began the 1960s with the 1960 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. Despite the qualifiers for the West Zone being held in Kochi, India finished last in their qualification group and thus missed out the tournament.^[31] Despite the set-back, India went on to win the gold medal during the Asian Games for the second time in 1962. The team defeated South Korea 2–1 to win their second major championship.^[32]

Two years later, following their Asian Games triumph, India participated in the 1964 AFC Asian Cup after all the other teams in their qualification group withdrew. Despite their automatic entry into the continental tournament, India team managed to finish as the runners-up during the tournament, losing out to the hosts, Israel, by two points. This remains India's best performance in the AFC Asian Cup.^[33]

Decline (1970s–2000)[edit | edit source]

A still from India vs Argentina, India's only match against the opponents. — India vs Argentina match at the Eden Gardens during the 1984 Nehru Cup.

India returned to the Asian Games in 1966. Despite their performance two years prior during the AFC Asian Cup, India could not go beyond the group stage as the team finished third, behind Japan and Iran.^[34] Four years later, during the 1970 Asian Games, India came back and took third place during the tournament. The team defeated Japan 1–0 during the bronze-medal match.^[35]

In 1974, India's performance in the Asian Games once again sharply declined as they finished the 1974 edition in last place in their group, losing all three matches, scoring two, and conceding 14 goals in the first round.^[36] India then showed steady improvement during the 1978 tournament, finishing second in their group of three. The team were then knocked-out in the next round, finishing last in their group with three defeats from three matches.^[37] The 1982 tournament proved to be better for India as the side managed to qualify for the quarter-finals before losing to Saudi Arabia 1–0.^[38]

In 1984, India managed to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup for the first time since their second place triumph in 1964. During the 1984 tournament, India finished in last place in their five team group in the first round.^[39] India's only non-defeat during the tournament came against Iran, a 0–0 draw.^[39]

Despite India's decline from a major football power in Asia, the team still managed to assert its dominance as the top team in South Asia. India managed to win the football competition of the South Asian Games in 1985 and then again won the gold medal in 1987.^[40] The team then began the 1990s by winning the inaugural SAFF Championship in 1993 and silver medal at the 1993 South Asian Games. In February 1996, India achieved its highest FIFA ranking of 94, under Bhaichung Bhutia's captaincy.^[41]^[42] The team ended the 20th century by winning the SAFF Championship again in 1997 and 1999.^[42]

Resurgence (2001–2011)[edit | edit source]

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India playing against Syria at the 2007 Nehru Cup

India's first competitive matches of the 21st century were the 2002 FIFA World Cup first round qualifiers. India took a very bright start, defeating the United Arab Emirates 1–0, drawing Yemen 1–1, as well as two victories over Brunei, including a 5–0 victory in Bangalore. However, they finished a point away from qualification for the next round.^[43] In 2003, India took part in the 2003 SAFF Championship. The team qualified for the semi-finals but fell to Bangladesh 2–1.^[44]

Later in 2003, India participated in the Afro-Asian Games being held in Hyderabad. Under the coaching of Stephen Constantine, India managed to make it to the final of the tournament after defeating Zimbabwe, a team ranked 85 places above India in the FIFA rankings at the time, 5–3.^[45] Despite the major victory, during the gold-medal match India were defeated 1–0 by Uzbekistan.^[46] Because of this achievement, Constantine was voted as the Asian Football Confederation's Manager of the Month for October 2003. The tournament result also gave India more recognition around the country and around the world.^[45]

Bhaichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri holding the Indian National flag. — The captain of Indian Football team, Bhaichung Bhutia celebrating along with other players after winning the 2007 Nehru Cup final.

Constantine was replaced by Syed Nayeemuddin in 2005 but the Indian head coach only lasted for a little over a year as India suffered many heavy defeats during the 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.^[47] During this time India were defeated 6–0 by Japan, 3–0 by Saudi Arabia and Yemen respectively at home, and 7–1 away in Jeddah.^[48] Former Malmö and China coach Bob Houghton was brought in as head coach in May 2006.^[49]

Under Houghton, India witnessed massive improvement in their football standing. In August 2007, Houghton won the country the restarted Nehru Cup after India defeated Syria 1–0 in the final.^[50] Pappachen Pradeep scored the winning goal for India that match. The next year, Houghton led India during the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, which was hosted in Hyderabad and Delhi. During the tournament, India breezed through the group stage before defeating Myanmar in the semi-finals. In the final against Tajikistan, India, through a Sunil Chhetri hat-trick, won the match 4–1. The victory not only earned India the championship but it also allowed India to qualify for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, the nation's first Asian Cup appearance in 27 years.^[51] In order to prepare for the Asian Cup, Houghton had the team stay together as a squad for eight months from June 2010 until the start of the tournament, meaning the players would not play for their clubs.^[52]

India were drawn into Group C for the Asian Cup with Australia, South Korea, and Bahrain.^[53] Even though they stayed together as a team for eight months, India lost all three of their matches during the Asian Cup, including a 4–0 defeat to Australia.^[54] Despite the results, India were praised by fans and pundits for their valiant efforts during the tournament.^[54]

Recent history (2011–present)[edit | edit source]

After participating the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, India's campaign to qualify for the 2015 Asian Cup began in February 2011 with the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers. Bob Houghton decided to change the makeup of the India squad, replacing many of the older players from the Asian Cup with some young players from the AIFF development side in the I-League, Indian Arrows.^[55] Even with a young side, India managed to qualify for the AFC Challenge Cup.^[56] Despite qualifying for the AFC Challenge Cup, the AIFF decided to terminate the contract of Bob Houghton as he was charged with racial abuse towards referee^[57]^[58] which ultimately resulted in his resignation as the head coach of India.^[59]^[60]

After having Dempo coach Armando Colaco as interim head coach,^[61] the AIFF signed Savio Medeira as head coach in October 2011.^[62] Medeira led India to another SAFF Championship victory, but also to their worst performance in the AFC Challenge Cup in March 2012. The team lost all three of their group matches, unable to score a single goal during the tournament.^[63] After the tournament, Medeira was replaced as head coach by Dutchman, Wim Koevermans.^[64] Koevermans' first job as head coach was the 2012 Nehru Cup. India won their third successive Nehru Cup, defeating Cameroon on penalties.^[65]^[66]

In March 2013, India failed to qualify for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup and thus also failed to qualify for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.^[67] The team also failed to retain the SAFF Championship, losing 2–0 to Afghanistan in the 2013 final.^[68] After more bad results in friendlies, Koevermans resigned as head coach in October 2014.^[69]

By March 2015, after not playing any matches, India reached their lowest FIFA ranking position of 173.^[70] A couple months prior, Stephen Constantine was re-hired as the head coach after first leading India more than a decade before.^[71] Constantine's first major assignment back as the India head coach were the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. After making it through the first round of qualifiers, India crashed out during the second round, losing seven of their eight matches and thus, once again, failed to qualify for the World Cup.^[72]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

India playing XI against Thailand at 2019 AFC Asian Cup

Despite failure to qualify for the World Cup, India managed to reach the third round of 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers after defeating Laos in the play-off round on aggregate 7–1.^[73] On 11 October 2017, India secured qualification for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup after a 4–1 victory over Macau.^[74] In 2017, India remained undefeated by drawing two and winning seven games, which helped the team to reach 96 in the FIFA ranking in May, which is its second highest FIFA rank ever.^[41]

Though defeated at the 2018 SAFF Championship final 1–2 against Maldives in September 2018,^[75] India regained the momentum with some friendlies against China, Jordan and Oman as they began the 2019 AFC Asian Cup with a 4–1 victory against Thailand; this was their biggest ever win at the Asia Cup, and their first in 55 years.^[76]^[77] Nevertheless, they lost both of their next two group matches against UAE and Bahrain 0−2 and 0−1 respectively^[78]^[79] and finished at the bottom of the group, thus failed to move to knock out stage.^[80] Stephen Constantine immediately resigned from his position as head coach following the failure to progress further in the tournament.^[81]

On 15 May 2019, the AIFF announced former Croatian player and coach Igor Štimac as the team's head coach after the departure of Stephen Constantine.^[82] His first major assignment with India was 2022 World Cup qualification, where it began with a 1–2 home loss to Oman.^[83] But in the second match they earned a respectable point after managing a goalless draw against the 2019 Asian Champion and 2022 FIFA World Cup host Qatar.^[84] ^[41]However, in the third match, the home leg against Bangladesh saw them managing a disappointing 1−1 draw.^[85] A similar result was repeated in the away leg against Afghanistan.^[86] In the away leg, India lost yet again to Oman by a solitary goal, thus shortening their hopes to qualify for the next round.^[87] After several postponements due to COVID-19, the team finally flew to Doha to play their remainder of games. In the return leg against Qatar, India went down to the hosts with a single goal and got knocked out of the World Cup qualification tournament with two games to spare. The team then made a comeback by winning their next match against Bangladesh 2–0, and ended their campaign with a 1–1 draw against Afghanistan. With seven points in total, India finished third on the table behind Qatar and Oman, thus getting eliminated from the World Cup during the second round. However they were qualified into the third round of 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification.^[88]

In the third round of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification, India was drawn in the same group with Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Cambodia. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, India was chosen as the host of the group of the qualifiers while the qualification was reduced into a single round robin format.^[89] Using this home advantage, India was able to top the group with three wins against Cambodia (2–0), Afghanistan (2–1) and Hong Kong (4–0), therefore for the first time, India qualified for two consecutive AFC Asian Cups in history.^[90] In September 2022, India participated for the first time in the VFF Cup where they played two friendly matches, a 1–1 draw against Singapore and a 3–0 defeat by Vietnam, ending their year .^[91]^[92] In 2023, India began their campaign by winning the 2023 Tri-Nation Series and the 2023 Intercontinental Cup, both were organized by AIFF. India beat Myanmar 1–0 and Kyrgyzstan 2–0 in the Tri-Nation series, and defeated Lebanon 2–0 in the final of Intercontinental Cup to win the title for the second time.^[93]^[94] Following the Tri-Nation Series and the Intercontinental Cup, India won the 2023 SAFF championship, their third title in the year 2023 at home soil.^[95] India defeated Pakistan 4–0 and Nepal 2–0 and drawn 1–1 against Kuwait in the group stage.^[96]^[97]^[98] After defeating Lebanon in penalty shoot-out in the semi–finals, India faced Kuwait again in the tournament for the final. The match was tied 1–1 till the added time and eventually India defeated Kuwait in the penalty shoot-out to lift the SAFF Cup for a record nine times. Sunil Chhetri was the highest goal scorer of the edition with 5 goals, including a hat-trick against Pakistan, his fourth for the national team. With this hat-trick, he score 92 goals becoming the second-highest international goalscorer from Asia of all time. His tally of 92 put him as the fourth-highest goalscorer in the history of international football.^[99]^[100]

Team image[edit | edit source]

Nicknames[edit | edit source]

India is officially known by the nickname 'The Blue Tigers' since 2013. It is inspired by the colour blue which forms the primary colour of the team's home kit, depicting Ashoka Chakra's colour in the national flag (similar to the Indian national teams of other sports) and the tiger which is the national animal of India.^[101]^[102]

Kit and colours[edit | edit source]

The success of the India cricket team and field hockey teams in blue jerseys made the colour more prominent. The football team, however, has used some sort of shade of blue for decades.^[103]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

India in 2007, wearing their traditional blue jersey.

At the turn of the 21st century, India wore a sky blue shirt with black shorts and sky blue socks as their kit.^[103] In 2002, the All India Football Federation signed a deal with German manufacturer Adidas to produce the India kit.^[104] The first kit made by Adidas was all-white.^[104] After four years with Adidas, the AIFF signed an agreement for seven years with American company Nike on 27 February 2006.^[105] Nike's first kits for India were in darker blue while the away kit was changed from white to orange.^[106] For the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, in which India were participating, Nike designed India's kit using the same template it used for other national teams such as Brazil.^[107] In January 2013. it was announced that the AIFF's deal with Nike was extended for an extra five years.^[108] In September 2017, prior to the India U17 side's participation in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, Nike unveiled an all sky blue kit for the India senior and youth teams.^[109] A year later, on 17 December 2018, it was announced that Indian manufacturer SIX5SIX would replace Nike as India's kit maker.^[110] In becoming India's new kit makers, Six5Six also became the first manufacturer to pay for the rights to produce India kits, after both Nike and Adidas didn't pay.^[110] Six5Six unveiled their first jerseys for the team before the 2019 AFC Asian Cup,^[111] from which the home colour had a similar sky blue shade and the away colour was changed to white from orange. Both jerseys had a unique design embellished on the sleeves representing tiger stripes to pay homage to the Indian football fans, who affectionately calls the team "Blue Tigers".^[112]

Home stadiums[edit | edit source]

Stadium interior, photographed from the grandstand

The Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata (left) and the Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi

Numerous venues around India have hosted home matches for the national team. There is no specific home ground for the India national team. India matches have been played at stadiums such as the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi, the Fatorda Stadium in Margao, the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, the Mumbai Football Arena in Mumbai, the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal, the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad.^[113]^[114]^[115]^[116]^[117]

In recent times, competitions like 2011 SAFF Championship and 2012 Nehru Cup were held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi, the 2015 SAFF Championship at Trivandrum International Stadium, 2017 Hero Tri-Nation Series and 2018 Intercontinental Cup at Mumbai Football Arena and 2019 Intercontinental Cup at the EKA Arena. Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Sree Kanteerava Stadium and Fatorda stadium have seen AFC Asian Cup and FIFA World Cup qualifiers.^[118]^[119]^[120]^[121]^[122]^[123]^[124]

Supporters[edit | edit source]

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Blue Pilgrims displaying national flag and their own banners at the 2018 Intercontinental Cup

Till the 21st century, the Indian football fans were mostly scattered, being widely based in West Bengal, North-East India, Goa and Kerala.^[125]^[126]^[127]^[128]^[129] Other than matches in Asian Games, Nehru Cup or SAFF Championship,^[130]^[131]^[132] the crowd showed up in small numbers when the team played as the fans were not organised under any single banner as happens in Europe or South America. Fans of different clubs used to support the team in their respective local venues but were not grouped together to support a single cause, that of the national team, until 2017 when "Blue Pilgrims" was established as the first organised fan club for the national team.^[133]^[134]^[135]^[136]

The Blue Pilgrims formed with a motive to support the national team and the U-17 team during the historic 2017 U17 World Cup,^[137] India's first ever FIFA competition participation. Started with 300 odd fans,^[138]^[137] now they are in thousands as a unification of fans from different regions with different allegiances came together for just one cause, the Blue Tigers.^[133]^[134] They call themselves the devotees of the Blue Tigers,^[134]^[135] and their motto is to support India national football teams of all gender and age, wherever they play^[133]^[134] and for such dedication they are called as the 12th man of the team.^[138]^[137]

Blue Pilgrims, 3D tifo — The 3D Blue Tiger tifo displayed by Blue Pilgrims in June 2018

The Blue Pilgrims's most common chants are: "Oh India!", "In Unity we stand", "Oh India we stand for you!", "Vande Mataram".^[139]^[140] Their sports anthems are "Oh when the blues go marching in, I wanna be in that number!" and "Hum honge kaamyab" (We shall overcome).^[138] Since its formation, the Blue Pilgrims use to celebrate after every match with Viking clap with the national team members.^[141]^[142] Fans of the India national team display the country's tricolour National flag and also wear blue jerseys in solidarity with the team. They used to display their banner Blue Pilgrims along with "Inquilab-e-Indian football" (Revolution of Indian football)^[133]^[134]^[143] and often shout their common slogan, We love you, wherever you go, we follow!".^[139] On 2 June 2018, the then captain Sunil Chhetri posted a video on social media. In his video he urged the fans to come out at Mumbai to support the team after a poor crowd appearance of only 2569 at a match against Chinese Taipei in the 2018 Intercontinental Cup. India achieved a massive victory in that match, winning by 5−0 with Chhetri scoring a hat-trick, but there were very few people present to celebrate.^[144]^[145] Responding to the captain's call, the Blue Pilgrims and football supporters including the fan clubs like Manjappada, West Block Blues and East Bengal Ultras made sure that the stadiums were full during the next few matches.^[145]^[146] In the final of that tournament, the Blue Pilgrims displayed a 30 ft (9.1 m) tall 3D tifo of a Blue Tiger, the first ever in the team's history.^[141]^[147]^[148]

Media coverage[edit | edit source]

India's competitive international games are covered on television by Star Sports and on its OTT service, Hotstar.^[149] Prior to this deal, the AIFF had struck a ten-year deal with Zee Sports in 2006 to broadcast Indian national team's games on its channel with the initiative of 'Goal 2010' . The aim of this whole exercise was to help India qualify for the 2010 World Cup.^[150]

Results and fixtures[edit | edit source]

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Win Draw Loss Fixture

2023[edit | edit source]

22 March 2023 (2023-03-22) 2023 Tri-Nation Series	India	1–0	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Myanmar	Imphal, India
Template:UTZ	Thapa Error creating thumbnail: File missing 45+1'	Report		Stadium: Khuman Lampak Main Stadium Attendance: 29,431 Referee: Md Alamgir Sarker (Bangladesh)

28 March 2023 (2023-03-28) 2023 Tri-Nation Series	India	2–0	Kyrgyzstan	Imphal, India
Template:UTZ	Jhingan Error creating thumbnail: File missing 34' Chhetri Error creating thumbnail: File missing 84' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Khuman Lampak Main Stadium Attendance: 29,877 Referee: Md Alamgir Sarker (Bangladesh)

9 June 2023 (2023-06-09) 2023 Intercontinental Cup	India	2–0	Mongolia	Bhubaneswar, India
Template:UTZ	Samad Error creating thumbnail: File missing 2' Chhangte Error creating thumbnail: File missing 14'	Report		Stadium: Kalinga Stadium Referee: Songkran Bunmeekiart (Thailand)

12 June 2023 (2023-06-12) 2023 Intercontinental Cup	Template:Country data VAN	0–1	India	Bhubaneswar, India
Template:UTZ		Report	Chhetri Error creating thumbnail: File missing 81'	Stadium: Kalinga Stadium Referee: Virendha Rai (Bhutan)

15 June 2023 (2023-06-15) 2023 Intercontinental Cup	India	0–0	Lebanon	Bhubaneswar, India
Template:UTZ		Report		Stadium: Kalinga Stadium Referee: Javiz Mohamed (Maldives)

18 June 2023 (2023-06-18) 2023 Intercontinental Cup Final	India	2–0	Lebanon	Bhubaneswar, India
Template:UTZ	Chhetri Error creating thumbnail: File missing 46' Chhangte Error creating thumbnail: File missing 65'	Report		Stadium: Kalinga Stadium Attendance: 12,600 Referee: Virendha Rai (Bhutan)

21 June 2023 (2023-06-21) 2023 SAFF Championship GS	India	4–0	Pakistan	Bangalore, India
Template:UTZ	Chhetri Error creating thumbnail: File missing 10', 16' (pen.), 74' (pen.) Kumam Error creating thumbnail: File missing 81'	Report		Stadium: Sree Kanteerava Stadium Attendance: 22,860 Referee: Prajwol Chhetri (Nepal)

24 June 2023 (2023-06-24) 2023 SAFF Championship GS	Nepal Error creating thumbnail: File missing	0–2	India	Bangalore, India
Template:UTZ		Report	Chhetri Error creating thumbnail: File missing 61' Naorem Error creating thumbnail: File missing 70'	Stadium: Sree Kanteerava Stadium Attendance: 12,642 Referee: Sinan Hussain (Maldives)

27 June 2023 (2023-06-27) 2023 SAFF Championship GS	India	1–1	Kuwait	Bangalore, India
Template:UTZ	Chhetri Error creating thumbnail: File missing 45+2'	Report	A. Ali Error creating thumbnail: File missing 90+2' (o.g.)	Stadium: Sree Kanteerava Stadium Attendance: 9,562 Referee: Md Alamgir Sarker (Bangladesh)

1 July 2023 (2023-07-01) 2023 SAFF Championship SF	Lebanon	0–0 (a.e.t.) (2–4 p)	India	Bangalore, India
Template:UTZ		Report		Stadium: Sree Kanteerava Stadium Attendance: 19,640 Referee: Sinan Hussain (Maldives)
	Penalties
	Maatouk Error creating thumbnail: File missing Shour Sadek Bader Error creating thumbnail: File missing		Chhetri A. Ali Naorem Kumam

4 July 2023 (2023-07-04) 2023 SAFF Championship Final	Kuwait	1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p)	India	Bangalore, India
Template:UTZ	Al-Khaldi Error creating thumbnail: File missing 14'	Report	Chhangte Error creating thumbnail: File missing 36'	Stadium: Sree Kanteerava Stadium Attendance: 26,380 Referee: Prajwol Chhetri (Nepal)
	Penalties
	Daham Error creating thumbnail: File missing Al Otaibi Al-Dhefiri Naji Al-Khaldi Hajeyah Error creating thumbnail: File missing		Chhetri Jhingan Chhangte Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kumam Bose Naorem

7 September 2023 (2023-09-07) 2023 King's Cup SF	Iraq Error creating thumbnail: File missing	2–2 (5–4 p)	India	Chiang Mai, Thailand
Template:UTZ	Al-Hamadi Error creating thumbnail: File missing 28' (pen.) Hussein Error creating thumbnail: File missing 80' (pen.)	Report	Naorem Error creating thumbnail: File missing 16' Hassan Error creating thumbnail: File missing 51' (o.g.)	Stadium: 700th Anniversary Stadium Attendance: 2,884 Referee: Wiwat Jumpaoon (Thailand)
	Penalties
	Doski Adnan Ali Al-Hamawi Resan		Error creating thumbnail: File missing Fernandes Jhingan Wangjam A. Ali R. Ali

10 September 2023 (2023-09-10) 2023 King's Cup 3rd	Lebanon	1–0	India	Chiang Mai, Thailand
Template:UTZ	Kassem Error creating thumbnail: File missing 77'	Report		Stadium: 700th Anniversary Stadium Attendance: 13,567 Referee: Torpong Somsingha (Thailand)

13 October 2023 (2023-10-13) 2023 Merdeka Tournament SF	Malaysia	4–2	India	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Template:UTZ	Cools Error creating thumbnail: File missing 7' Arif Error creating thumbnail: File missing 20' (pen.) Faisal Error creating thumbnail: File missing 42' Corbin-Ong Error creating thumbnail: File missing 61'	Report	N. M. Singh Error creating thumbnail: File missing 13' Chhetri Error creating thumbnail: File missing 51'	Stadium: Bukit Jalil National Stadium Referee: Mongkolchai Pechsri (Thailand)

16 November 2023 (2023-11-16) 2026 WCQ / 2027 ACQ	Kuwait	v	India	Kuwait City, Kuwait
Template:UTZ				Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium

21 November 2023 (2023-11-21) 2026 WCQ / 2027 ACQ	India	v	Qatar	Bhubaneswar, India
Template:UTZ				Stadium: Kalinga Stadium

2024[edit | edit source]

13 January 2024 (2024-01-13) 2023 AFC Asian Cup GS	Australia	v	India	Al Rayyan, Qatar
Template:UTZ				Stadium: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium

18 January 2024 (2024-01-18) 2023 AFC Asian Cup GS	India	v	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Uzbekistan	Al Rayyan, Qatar
Template:UTZ				Stadium: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium

23 January 2024 (2024-01-23) 2023 AFC Asian Cup GS	Syria File:Flag of Syria.svg	v	India	Al Khor, Qatar
Template:UTZ				Stadium: Al Bayt Stadium

21 March 2024 (2024-03-21) 2026 WCQ / 2027 ACQ	Winner of R1 Pairing 1 Error creating thumbnail: File missing	v	India	TBA
Template:UTZ				Stadium: TBA

26 March 2024 (2024-03-26) 2026 WCQ / 2027 ACQ	India	v	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Winner of R1 Pairing 1	Guwahati, India
Template:UTZ				Stadium: IGA Stadium

6 June 2024 (2024-06-06) 2026 WCQ / 2027 ACQ	India	v	Kuwait	India
Template:UTZ				Stadium: TBA

11 June 2024 (2024-06-11) 2026 WCQ / 2027 ACQ	Qatar	v	India	Qatar
Template:UTZ				Stadium: TBA

Coaching staff[edit | edit source]

Syed Abdul Rahim coached India in the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Olympics. — Syed Abdul Rahim, the most successful Indian coach for the national team

Portrait of Stephen Constantine wearing goggles. — Stephen Constantine, one of the most successful foreign coaches for the national team (2019)

Coaching history[edit | edit source]

Since India's independence, there have been twenty-nine different head coaches for the national team, out of which eleven foreign. The most successful head coach for India was Syed Abdul Rahim, who led India to gold in both the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games while also achieving a fourth-place finish during the 1956 Summer Olympics. The most successful foreign head coaches for India were Bob Houghton and Stephen Constantine; both of them helped the team to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup. With Houghton in charge from 2006 to 2011,^[151] India won the Nehru Cup twice and the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008, which allowed them to participate in their first AFC Asian Cup for 27 years.^[151] Since Houghton resigned as head coach in 2011, the Indian national team's FIFA ranking touched its lowest at 173 in the team history in March 2015,^[152]^[153] but Constantine, who was appointed for the second time as the head coach of India,^[154]^[155] revived the Indian team from its meagre condition. Under him, the team remained unbeaten for two years from June 2016 to March 2018 winning 11 matches and drawn 2 matches,^[156]^[157] which helped them to qualify for 2019 AFC Asian Cup, 8 years since Houghton left.^[158] He also helped the team to reach a better FIFA ranking of 96 in July 2017, which was the best in last 21 years.^[152]^[153]

Present coaching staff[edit | edit source]

Position	Name
Head coach	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Igor Štimac^[159]
Assistant coach	Mahesh Gawli^[160]
Goalkeeping coach	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Frano Srdarev^[161]
Fitness coach	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Luka Radman^[162]

Players[edit | edit source]

Current squad[edit | edit source]

The following 23 players were named in the squad for the 2023 Merdeka Tournament matches to be held in October 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.^[163]

Caps and goals are correct as of 11 September 2023, after the match against Lebanon.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1GK	Gurpreet Singh Sandhu	(1992-02-03) 3 February 1992 (age 34)	64	0	Bengaluru
1GK	Amrinder Singh	(1993-05-27) 27 May 1993 (age 33)	12	0	Odisha
1GK	Vishal Kaith	(1996-07-22) 22 July 1996 (age 30)	4	0	Mohun Bagan SG

2DF	Nikhil Poojary	(1995-09-03) 3 September 1995 (age 30)	18	1	Hyderabad
2DF	Naorem Roshan Singh	(1999-02-02) 2 February 1999 (age 27)	9	0	Bengaluru
2DF	Sandesh Jhingan	(1993-07-21) 21 July 1993 (age 33)	57	5	Goa
2DF	Anwar Ali	(2000-08-28) 28 August 2000 (age 25)	18	1	Mohun Bagan SG
2DF	Mehtab Singh	(1998-05-05) 5 May 1998 (age 28)	7	0	Mumbai City
2DF	Lalchungnunga	(2000-12-25) 25 December 2000 (age 25)	0	0	East Bengal
2DF	Akash Mishra	(2001-11-27) 27 November 2001 (age 24)	22	0	Mumbai City
2DF	Subhasish Bose	(1995-08-18) 18 August 1995 (age 31)	34	0	Mohun Bagan SG

3MF	Suresh Singh Wangjam	(2000-08-07) 7 August 2000 (age 26)	19	1	Bengaluru
3MF	Anirudh Thapa	(1998-01-15) 15 January 1998 (age 28)	51	4	Mohun Bagan SG
3MF	Rohit Kumar	(1997-04-01) 1 April 1997 (age 29)	11	0	Bengaluru
3MF	Sahal Abdul Samad	(1997-04-01) 1 April 1997 (age 29)	32	3	Mohun Bagan SG
3MF	Brandon Fernandes	(1994-09-20) 20 September 1994 (age 31)	22	0	Goa
3MF	Lallianzuala Chhangte	(1997-06-08) 8 June 1997 (age 29)	29	7	Mumbai City
3MF	Udanta Singh	(1996-06-14) 14 June 1996 (age 30)	46	2	Goa
3MF	Naorem Mahesh Singh	(1999-03-01) 1 March 1999 (age 27)	13	2	East Bengal
3MF	Liston Colaco	(1998-11-12) 12 November 1998 (age 27)	16	0	Mohun Bagan SG
3MF	Nandhakumar Sekar	(1995-12-20) 20 December 1995 (age 30)	2	0	East Bengal

4FW	Sunil Chhetri	(1984-08-03) 3 August 1984 (age 42)	142	92	Bengaluru
4FW	Manvir Singh	(1995-11-07) 7 November 1995 (age 30)	36	6	Mohun Bagan SG

Recent callups[edit | edit source]

The following footballers were part of a national selection in the past twelve months, but are not part of the current squad.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Prabhsukhan Singh Gill	(2001-01-02) 2 January 2001 (age 25)	0	0	East Bengal	NT camp, March 2023
GK	Phurba Lachenpa	(1998-02-04) 4 February 1998 (age 28)	0	0	Mumbai City	NT camp, May 2023 ^INJ
GK	Gurmeet Singh	(1999-12-03) 3 December 1999 (age 26)	0	0	Hyderabad	2023 King's Cup, September 2023

DF	Asish Rai	(1999-01-27) 27 January 1999 (age 27)	1	0	Mohun Bagan SG	2023 King's Cup, September 2023
DF	Narender Gahlot	(2001-04-24) 24 April 2001 (age 25)	4	1	Odisha	NT camp, March 2023
DF	Chinglensana Singh	(1996-11-27) 27 November 1996 (age 29)	11	0	Hyderabad	2023 Tri-Nation series ^OTH
DF	Rahul Bheke	(1990-12-06) 6 December 1990 (age 35)	22	1	Mumbai City	2023 SAFF Championship
DF	Pritam Kotal	(1993-09-08) 8 September 1993 (age 32)	52	0	Kerala Blasters	2023 SAFF Championship

MF	Lalengmawia Ralte	(2000-10-17) 17 October 2000 (age 25)	11	0	Mumbai City	2023 Intercontinental Cup ^OTH
MF	Rowllin Borges	(1992-06-05) 5 June 1992 (age 34)	35	2	Goa	2023 Intercontinental Cup
MF	Deepak Tangri	(1999-02-01) 1 February 1999 (age 27)	0	0	Mohun Bagan SG	NT camp, September 2022 ^INJ
MF	Glan Martins	(1994-07-01) 1 July 1994 (age 32)	13	0	Mohun Bagan SG	NT camp, March 2023 ^INJ
MF	Mohammad Yasir	(1998-04-14) 14 April 1998 (age 28)	13	0	Hyderabad	2023 Tri-Nation series ^INJ
MF	Ritwik Das	(1996-12-14) 14 December 1996 (age 29)	1	0	Jamshedpur	2023 Tri-Nation series
MF	Bipin Singh	(1995-03-10) 10 March 1995 (age 31)	7	0	Mumbai City	2023 Tri-Nation series
MF	Jeakson Singh	(2001-06-21) 21 June 2001 (age 25)	19	0	Kerala Blasters	2023 King's Cup, September 2023

FW	Rahul KP	(2000-02-16) 16 February 2000 (age 26)	4	0	Kerala Blasters	2023 King's Cup, September 2023
FW	Ashique Kuruniyan	(1997-06-18) 18 June 1997 (age 29)	34	2	Mohun Bagan SG	2023 King's Cup, September 2023
FW	Rahim Ali	(2000-04-21) 21 April 2000 (age 26)	13	0	Chennaiyin	2023 King's Cup, September 2023
FW	Sivasakthi Narayanan	(2001-07-09) 9 July 2001 (age 25)	0	0	Bengaluru	NT camp, May 2023
FW	Ishan Pandita	(1998-05-26) 26 May 1998 (age 28)	6	1	Jamshedpur	2023 Intercontinental Cup ^INJ
^PRE Preliminary squad / standby ^RET Retired from the national team ^INJ Player injuries ^OTH Player withdrew from squad due to non-injury issue

Notable players[edit | edit source]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Postage stamp issued in 1998, to honour Gostha Pal

During the early 20th century, India produced one of the best footballers from Asia at that time, Gostha Pal. Pal began playing professional football at the age of 16 in 1911, becoming India's first captain, and was considered one of the best defenders India had ever produced. He was also the first footballer to be awarded Padma Shree in the year 1962,^[164] and in 1998, the Government of India introduced a postal stamp in his honour.^[7] In the later 1930s, players like R. Lumsden, Noor Mohammed, T. Rahim, K. Prosad, A. Nandi under the leadership of Karuna Bhattacharya played for India who scored a total of 56 goals in 17 matches during the 1938 Australia tour out of which 5 matches were against Australia, where Lumsden scored the first international hat-trick for India.^[165]^[10]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Postage stamp issued in 2018, to honour Talimeren Ao

India's first captain after the country gained independence was Dr. Talimeren Ao. At a very young age, using footballs made out of rags, Ao gradually improved his skills as a defensive midfielder. He was given the responsibility of leading the team at the 1948 Olympics, India's first major tournament^[166]^[167] and also was the flag bearer of Indian contingents in London.^[168] Also during this era, India produced Sailen Manna, one of the country's best defenders.^[169] He was given the India captaincy in 1951 during the Asian Games, led the team to the gold medal, India's first major international honour,^[169] and also captained the team during the 1952 Olympics and 1954 Asian Games.^[169] In 1953, England Football Association rated Manna among "10 Best Skippers of the World" in its yearbook,^[170] the Government of India awarded him Padma Shri in 1971^[164] and AIFF honoured him as "AIFF Player-of-the-Millennium" in 2000.^[169]

During India's golden era between the 1950s and early 60s, the country produced coveted strikers such as Sheoo Mewalal, Neville D'Souza, Chuni Goswami, Inder Singh and Tulsidas Balaram. Mewalal was India's starting striker during the 1948 Olympics, 1952 Olympics and 1951 Asian games where he ended as the tournament top goalscorer with four goals.^[171]^[172] Mewalal was the first Indian player to score a hat-trick since the country gained independence when he scored it against Burma during the 1952 Colombo Cup.^[173] D'Souza meanwhile became the first Asian player to score a hat-trick at the Olympic Games,^[174] scoring a hat-trick against Australia during the 1956 Olympics.^[175] D'Souza also tied for top goalscorer in that edition of the Olympics, which helped India reach the semi-finals.^[176] Goswami represented India at the 1958 Asian Games and the 1960 Olympics, and captained the side during the 1962 Asian Games and the 1964 Asian Cup.^[177] He was bestowed with Padma Shri by the Government of India and AFC honoured him as "Best Striker of Asia" in 1962.^[178]

P. K. Banerjee, a winger who represented India at the 1956 Olympics and later captained the side during the 1960 Olympics, was named as the best "Indian player of the 20th Century".^[179] Peter Thangaraj was the starting goalkeeper for India during the later stage of India's golden era, being named as best "Indian keeper of the 20th Century" by IFFHS.^[179] P. K. Banerjee was honoured with Padma Shri by Government of India in 1990, and in 2004 FIFA bestowed him with "FIFA Centennial Order of Merit" Award, the highest honour awarded by FIFA.^[180]

From the 1970s to the 2000s, India saw a decline in their results. Despite the lack of tournament victories, the country managed to produce players like Syed Nayeemuddin who led India to bronze at the 1970 Asian Games.^[181] During the 1990s, I. M. Vijayan, India's best player at the time, was capped 66 times for India while scoring 29 goals and captaining the team several times.^[182]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Sunil Chhetri celebrating after scoring a goal

In 1995, Bhaichung Bhutia debuted for India. With Bhutia, India qualified for the AFC Asian Cup after a drought of 27 years.^[183] He was the captain of the team for over ten years.^[184]^[185]^[186] Considered one of the greatest footballers of India, he is the second-most-capped player of India with 82 caps and scored 27 times for India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2008^[164] and IFFHS listed him among the legendary players of football in 2016.^[187] Under Bhutia's captaincy Sunil Chhetri debuted for India who is now the only footballer in India's history to have played 100 international matches and is the all-time highest goal-scorer of India.^[188]^[189] Chhetri led the national team to many victories, most importantly qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup and under his leadership the team achieved its highest FIFA ranking of 96 after twenty-one years.^[152]^[153] His goal-scoring ability and skills made him the only Indian striker to score four hat-tricks for India.^[190]^[191]^[192] Sunil Chhetri is now the third-highest international goalscorer among active players, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi,^[193]^[194] but fourth overall, and is also the most-capped player and the all-time top goalscorer of the India national team.^[195]^[196]^[197]

Competitive record[edit | edit source]

FIFA World Cup[edit | edit source]

India has never played in the finals of the FIFA World Cup.^[198] After gaining independence in 1947, India managed to qualify for the World Cup held in 1950.^[199] This was due to Myanmar, Indonesia, and the Philippines withdrawing from qualification round.^[198] However, prior to the start of the tournament, India themselves withdrew due to the expenses required in getting the team to Brazil.^[198] But this reason was untrue because FIFA was ready to give money to India (AIFF) for their trip to Brazil.^[200] Other reasons cited for why India withdrew include FIFA not allowing Indian players to play in the tournament barefoot and the All India Football Federation not considering the FIFA World Cup an important tournament compared to the Olympics, but according to some pundits barefoot was a made up story, manufactured by AIFF to stop people asking questions on "why India didn't participate in the 1950 FIFA world cup?"^[201]^[198] AIFF did not have confidence in then Indian players that they would complete in world cup against world’s top teams and win.^[202]

After withdrawing from the 1950 FIFA World Cup, India did not enter the qualifying rounds of the tournament between 1954 and 1982.^[203] Since the 1986 qualifiers, with the exception of the 1990 edition of the tournament, the team participated in World Cup qualification, but has yet to qualify for the finals again.^[203]

FIFA World Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Ref.
1930 to Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1938	Did not enter									Did not enter						–
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1950	Qualified, but withdrew									Qualified by default						^[204]
1954	Denied by FIFA									Denied by FIFA						^[205]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1958 to Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1982	Did not enter									Did not enter						–
1986	Did not qualify									6	2	3	1	7	6	^[206]
1990										Withdrew from qualification						–
1994										8	1	1	6	8	22	^[207]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1998										3	1	1	1	3	7	^[208]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 2002										6	3	2	1	11	5	^[209]
2006										6	1	1	4	2	18	^[210]
2010										2	0	1	1	3	6	^[211]
2014										2	0	1	1	2	5	^[212]
2018										8	2	1	7	7	18	^[213]
2022										8	1	4	3	6	7	^[214]
2026	To be determined									To be determined						–
Total	—	0/22	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	51	11	15	25	49	93	—

AFC Asian Cup[edit | edit source]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Indian players celebrating with fans after winning a match at 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

India has qualified for the AFC Asian Cup five times. The team played their first Asian Cup in 1964. The team managed to qualify following other nations' refusal to play against India due to political reasons.^[215]^[216] India managed to finish the tournament as runners-up to hosts Israel, with Inder Singh finishing as joint top-scorer.^[216] Since then India has failed to progress beyond the first round of the Asian Cup with their participation at the 1984^[217] and 2011 Asian Cups,^[218] and most recently the 2019 Asian Cup.^[80]

In June 2022, India qualified for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup after winning all the matches in the third round of 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification. This is the first time ever India qualified consecutively for the continental championship.^[90]

AFC Asian Cup record										AFC Asian Cup qualification
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Ref.
Hong Kong 1956	Did not enter									Did not enter						–
1960	Did not qualify									6	2	0	4	7	9	^[219]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1964	Runners-up	2nd	3	2	0	1	5	3	Squad	Qualified by default						^[220]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1968	Did not qualify									3	0	1	2	2	6	^[221]
1972	Did not enter									Did not enter						–
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1976																–
1980																–
1984	Group stage	10th	4	0	1	3	0	7	Squad	4	3	0	1	8	2	^[222]
1988	Did not qualify									5	0	1	4	0	6	^[223]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1992										2	1	0	1	2	3	^[224]
1996										2	0	0	2	3	12	^[225]
2000										4	1	1	2	8	9	^[226]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 2004										2	0	1	1	1	3	^[227]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 2007										6	0	0	6	2	24	^[228]
2011	Group stage	16th	3	0	0	3	3	13	Squad	AFC Challenge Cup						^[229]
2015	Did not qualify									AFC Challenge Cup						^[230]
2019	Group stage	17th	3	1	0	2	4	4	Squad	18	8	2	8	25	24	^[231]
2023	To be determined									11	4	4	3	14	8	–
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 2027	To be determined									To be determined
Totals	Runners-up	2nd	13	3	1	9	12	27	—	63	19	11	33	73	106	—

Summer Olympics[edit | edit source]

Members of India national team at the 1948 Olympics — Talimeren Ao on the left, leading the Indian team to Cricklefield Stadium to play against France in 1948.

India competed in four straight Olympic football tournaments between 1948 and 1960.^[232] Their sole 1948 Olympics match against France was also India's first ever international match since the country gained independence in 1947.^[11] During the match, a majority of the Indian side played barefoot.^[11] The match ended in a 2–1 defeat, with Sarangapani Raman scoring the lone goal for India.^[11] India then returned to the Olympics four years later where they took on Yugoslavia in the preliminary rounds. The team suffered a 10–1 defeat, India's largest margin of defeat in a competitive match, and were knocked out.^[233]

Four years later, during the 1956 Olympics, India managed to reach the semi-finals and finish fourth. After India's first round opponents, Hungary, withdrew from the tournament, the team played against hosts Australia in the quarter-finals. A Neville D'Souza hat-trick, the first by an Asian footballer in the Olympics, helped India win 4–2.^[234] However, in the semi-finals, India once again suffered defeat against Yugoslavia, going down 4–1. In the bronze medal match, India were defeated 3–0 by Bulgaria.^[234]

In 1960, India competed in Group D with Hungary, France and Peru. India ended the group in last place, drawing once.^[235] India have since failed to qualify for another Olympic games.

Summer Olympics record										Summer Olympics qualification record
Host/Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Ref.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1908 to Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1936	Did not enter									Did not enter						–
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1948	Round 1	11th	1	0	0	1	1	2	Squad	Qualified automatically						^[236]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1952	Preliminaries	25th	1	0	0	1	1	10	Squad	Qualified automatically						^[237]
1956	Semi-finals	4th	3	1	0	2	5	9	Squad	Bye						^[238]
1960	Round 1	13th	3	0	1	2	3	6	Squad	3	3	0	0	11	4	^[239]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1964 to 1988	Did not qualify									20	6	1	13	34	38	–
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1992–present	See India national U-23 team									See India national U-23 team
Total	Semi-finals	4th	8	1	1	6	10	27	—	23	9	1	13	45	42	–

Asian Games[edit | edit source]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Indian team celebrating after defeating South Korea in the final of 1962 Asiad at Senayan Main Stadium, Jakarta.

India competed in eleven Asian Games, starting from 1951 to 1998, except the 1990 and 1994 editions.^[240] In 1951 Asian Games India won their first match against Indonesia in the first round and then defeated Japan in semi-final and went on to win against Iran in the final in front of the home crowd. The achievement of the Indian team was a special one as they became the first ever Asian Games gold medalists in football and also the first ever Asian football champions as well.^[241]

Though the next two tournaments proved to be less successful for the team, but they bounced back by winning the gold at the 1962 Asian games by defeating the Asian Cup winners South Korea in the final to win their second continental title. The team failed to defend their title in 1966 and went on to claim the bronze medal in 1970.^[242]

This was the last time India ever finished on the medal podium, the next years proved to be hard for the Indian team to regain their dominance as the side went through a sharp decline.^[243] After two disappointing editions in 1974 and 1978, India performed much better in the 1982 Asiad, which they hosted for the second time by reaching the quarter-finals but lost to Saudi Arabia. Due to the poor performance in 1986 Asian Games the authorities decided not to send the team for the upcoming games.^[244] The team made their return in 1998.

Asian Games record
Host/Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad	Ref.
1951	Champions	1st	3	3	0	0	7	0	Squad	^[245]
1954	Round 1	8th	2	1	0	1	3	6	Squad	^[246]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1958	Semi-finals	4th	5	2	0	3	12	13	Squad	^[247]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1962	Champions	1st	5	4	0	1	11	6	Squad	^[248]
1966	Round 1	8th	3	1	0	2	4	7	Squad	^[249]
1970	Third Place	3rd	6	3	1	2	8	5	Squad	^[250]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1974	Round 1	13th	3	0	0	3	2	14	Squad	^[251]
1978	Round 2	8th	5	1	0	4	5	13	Squad	^[252]
1982	Quarter-finals	6th	4	2	1	1	5	3	Squad	^[253]
1986	Round 1	16th	3	0	0	3	1	8	Squad	^[254]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1990	did not enter
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1994	did not enter
1998	Round 2	16th	5	1	0	4	3	8	Squad	^[255]
2002–present	See India national U-23 team
Total	2 Titles	1st	44	18	2	24	61	83	—	—

SAFF Championship[edit | edit source]

India has played in all editions of the SAFF Championship (except in 2009 when they sent under-23 team) and has been the most successful team in the competition winning an overall eight titles.^[256] The team played in the knockout stage of every tournament except in 1993 when the tournament was in a league format.^[257] The team also boasts a prestigious record of claiming medal at every championships played so far.^[258] India has played in the final of every championship except the 2003 tournament where they claimed bronze medal for the first time.^[259]^[260]

SAFF Championship record
Host/Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad	Ref.
1993	Champions	1st	3	2	1	0	4	1	N/A	^[261]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1995	Runners-up	2nd	3	0	2	1	2	3	Squad	^[262]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1997	Champions	1st	4	3	1	0	12	3	N/A	^[263]
1999	Champions	1st	4	3	1	0	6	1	Squad	^[264]
2003	Third place	3rd	5	2	1	2	8	5	Squad	^[265]
2005	Champions	1st	5	4	1	0	9	2	Squad	^[266]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 2008	Runners-up	2nd	5	4	0	1	9	3	Squad	^[267]
2011	Champions	1st	5	4	1	0	16	2	Squad	^[268]
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 2013	Runners-up	2nd	5	2	1	2	4	5	Squad	^[269]
2015	Champions	1st	4	4	0	0	11	4	Squad	^[270]
2018	Runners-up	2nd	4	3	0	1	8	3	Squad	^[271]
2021	Champions	1st	5	3	2	0	8	2	Squad	^[272]
2023	Champions	1st	5	2	3	0	8	2	Squad	^[273]
Total	8 Titles	1st	57	36	14	7	105	36	—	—

Honours[edit | edit source]

These are the following major honours won by India that are officially organised and recognized by FIFA, AFC and SAFF.^[274]^[275]

FIFA[edit | edit source]

Summer Olympics
- Fourth place: 1956^[276]

AFC[edit | edit source]

India national team in 2008. — Indian team celebrating their 2008 AFC Challenge Cup victory

AFC Asian Cup
- Runners-up: 1964^[277]
Asian Games
- Gold medal: 1951, 1962^[278]
- Bronze medal: 1970
- Fourth place:1958
AFC Challenge Cup
- Winners: 2008^[279]

SAFF[edit | edit source]

SAFF Championship
- Winners: 1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2011, 2015, 2021, 2023^[280]
- Runners-up: 1995, 2008, 2013, 2018
- Third place: 2003
South Asian Games
- Gold medal: 1985, 1987, 1995^[281]
- Silver medal: 1993
- Bronze medal: 1989, 1999

Explanatory note[edit | edit source]

↑ India actually were tied with France at 1 goal all 70 minutes.

References[edit | edit source]

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External links[edit | edit source]

All India Football Federation (official website)
India national football team on Twitter
India national football team on Facebook
India at AFC
India at FIFA
Team profile: India at BeSoccer
Team overview at Sportskeeda

Template:Asian Games football men's tournament winners Template:AFC Challenge Cup winners

Template:AFC teams

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[277] "Football Tournament of the Olympic Games - Overview". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.

[278] "Asian Nations Cup". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.

[279] "Asian Games". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.

[280] "AFC Challenge Cup". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.

[281] "South Asian Football Federation Cup". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.

[282] "South Asian Federation Games". Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2023.

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India national football team: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 04:59, 14 October 2023

Contents

History[edit | edit source]

Early years (1930s–1940s)[edit | edit source]

Golden years (1950s–1960s)[edit | edit source]

Decline (1970s–2000)[edit | edit source]

Resurgence (2001–2011)[edit | edit source]

Recent history (2011–present)[edit | edit source]

Team image[edit | edit source]

Nicknames[edit | edit source]

Kit and colours[edit | edit source]

Home stadiums[edit | edit source]

Supporters[edit | edit source]

Media coverage[edit | edit source]

Results and fixtures[edit | edit source]

2023[edit | edit source]

2024[edit | edit source]

Coaching staff[edit | edit source]

Coaching history[edit | edit source]

Present coaching staff[edit | edit source]

Players[edit | edit source]

Current squad[edit | edit source]

Recent callups[edit | edit source]

Notable players[edit | edit source]

Competitive record[edit | edit source]

FIFA World Cup[edit | edit source]

AFC Asian Cup[edit | edit source]

Summer Olympics[edit | edit source]

Asian Games[edit | edit source]

SAFF Championship[edit | edit source]

Honours[edit | edit source]

FIFA[edit | edit source]

AFC[edit | edit source]

SAFF[edit | edit source]

Explanatory note[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Men's national association football team representing India}}
+{{About|the men's team|the women's team|India women's national football team}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
+{{Use Indian English|date=March 2017}}
 {{Infobox national football team
-| Name = India
+| Name                   = India
-| FIFA Trigramme = IND
+| Badge                  = Indian Football 2020.svg
-| Nickname = ''Blue Tigers''
+| Badge_size             = 185px
-| Ass}}
+| FIFA Trigramme         = IND
-| Confederation = [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] (Asia)
+| Nickname               = [[List of AFC national association football teams by nickname|The Blue Tigers]]
-| Sub-confederation = [[South Asian Football Federation|SAFF]] (South Asia)
+| Association            = [[All India Football Federation]] (AIFF)
-| Coach = Igor Stimac
+| Confederation          = [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] (Asia)
-| Captain = [[Pronay Halder]] <!--latest captain only-->
+| Sub-confederation      = [[South Asian Football Federation|SAFF]] (South Asia)
-| Most caps = [[Sunil Chhetri]] <!--Don't change, this is the real number based on a reliable source.-->(107)<ref name="Chhetri">{{cite web |title=Sunil Chhetri |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/12944/Sunil_Chhetri.html |website=national-football-teams}}</ref>
+| Coach                  = [[Igor Štimac]]
-| Top scorer = [[Sunil Chhetri]] (67)<ref name="Chhetri"/>
+| Captain                = [[Sunil Chhetri]] <!--Latest match captain-->
-| Home Stadium = [[India national football team#Home stadiums|Various]]
+| Most caps              = Sunil Chhetri (143)<ref name="top GS">{{cite web|last1=Dey|first1=Subrata|title=India – Record international players |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/india-recintlp.html |access-date=12 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321143659/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/india-recintlp.html#app|archive-date=21 March 2019|website=[[RSSSF]]|url-status=live}}</ref>
-| FIFA Rank = {{FIFA World Rankings|IND}}
+| Top scorer             = Sunil Chhetri<!-- DO NOT LINK, already linked above --> ([[List of international goals scored by Sunil Chhetri|93]])<ref name="top GS"/>
-| FIFA max = 94<ref name = "peak ranking">{{cite news| title= India jump four spots to enter top 150 of FIFA men's rankings | url= https://thefield.scroll.in/816585/football-india-jump-four-spots-to-enter-top-150-of-fifa-mens-rankings |publisher=TheField Scroll |work=Scroll | date=3 March 2017 | accessdate=3 March 2017}}</ref>
+| Home Stadium           = [[#Home stadiums|Various]]
-| FIFA max date = February 1996
+| FIFA Rank              = {{FIFA World Rankings|IND}}
-| FIFA min = 173<ref>{{cite news| title= India slip to 172 in latest FIFA rankings | url= http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/india-slip-to-172-in-latest-fifa-rankings/ |publisher=IndianExpress |work=IndianExpress | date=3 March 2017 | accessdate=3 March 2017}}</ref>
+| FIFA max               = 94
-| FIFA min date = March 2015
+| FIFA max date          = February 1996<ref name="FIFA World Rankings"/>
-| Elo Rank = {{World Football Elo Ratings|India}}
+| FIFA min               = 173
-| Elo max = 30<ref name="elo">{{cite web | title= World Football Elo Ratings: India | url= http://www.eloratings.net/India.htm | publisher=World Football Elo Ratings | accessdate=15 September 2018}}</ref>
+| FIFA min date          = March 2015<ref name="FIFA World Rankings"/>
-| Elo max date = March 1952
+| Elo Rank               = {{World Football Elo Ratings|India}}
-| Elo min = 186<ref name="elo" />
+| Elo max                = 30<ref name="elo">{{cite web | title= World Football Elo Ratings: India | url= http://www.eloratings.net/India.htm | publisher= World Football Elo Ratings | access-date= 15 September 2018 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180424212122/http://www.eloratings.net/India.htm | archive-date= 24 April 2018 | url-status= live }}</ref>
-| Elo min date = September 2015
+| Elo max date           = March 1952
-| pattern_la1=_ind19h
+| Elo min                = 186<ref name="elo" />
-| pattern_b1=_ind19h
+| Elo min date           = September 2015
-| pattern_ra1= _ind19h
+| pattern_la1            =
-| pattern_sh1=
+| pattern_b1             = _ind21h
-| pattern_so1=
+| pattern_ra1            =
-| leftarm1=335AFF
+| pattern_sh1            =
-| body1=335AFF
+| pattern_so1            = _ind21h
-| rightarm1=335AFF
+| leftarm1               = 0000DC
-| shorts1=335AFF
+| body1                  = 0000DC
-| socks1=335AFF
+| rightarm1              = 0000DC
-| pattern_la2=_ind19a
+| shorts1                = 0000DC
-| pattern_b2=_ind19a
+| socks1                 = 0000DC
-| pattern_ra2=_ind19a
+| pattern_la2            =
-| pattern_sh2=
+| pattern_b2             = _ind21a
-| pattern_so2=
+| pattern_ra2            =
-| leftarm2=FFFFFF
+| pattern_sh2            =
-| body2=FFFFFF
+| pattern_so2            = _ind21a
-| rightarm2=FFFFFF
+| leftarm2               = FFFFFF
-| shorts2=FFFFFF
+| body2                  = FFFFFF
-| socks2=FF4500
+| rightarm2              = FFFFFF
+| shorts2                = FFFFFF
+| socks2                 = FFFFFF
 | First game = ''Pre-independence:''<br/>{{fb|AUS}} 5–3 {{fb-rt|IND|British}}<br/>([[Sydney]], Australia; 3 September 1938)<br/>''Post-independence:''<br/>{{fb|IND}} 1–2 {{fb-rt|FRA}}<br/>([[London]], England; 31 July 1948)
-| Largest win = {{fb|AUS}} 1–7 {{fb-rt|IND}}<br />([[Sydney]], Australia; 12 December 1956)<br/>{{fb|IND}} 6–0 {{fb-rt|CAM}}<br/>([[New Delhi]], India; 17 August 2007)
+| Largest win            =  {{fb-rt|SRI}} 0–7 {{fb|IND}}<br/>(India; 7 December 1963)
-| Largest loss = {{fb|YUG}} 10–1 {{fb-rt|IND}}<br />([[Helsinki]], Finland; 15 July 1952) <!--don't change, match against Soviet is not a fifa A match, only fifa A match here-->
+| Largest loss = {{fb-rt|YUG}} 10–1 {{fb|IND}}<br/>([[Helsinki]], Finland; 15 July 1952)<!-- <br>{{fb|URS|1955}} 11–1 {{fb-rt|IND}}<br/>([[Moscow]], [[Soviet Union]]; 16 September 1955) --><!--don't change, match against Soviet is not a fifa A match, only fifa A match here-->
-| World cup apps =
+| World cup apps         =
-| World cup first =
+| World cup first        =
-| World cup best =
+| World cup best         =
-| Regional name = [[Summer Olympics]]
+| Regional name          = [[Football at the Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
-| Regional cup apps = 4
+| Regional cup apps      = 4
-| Regional cup first = [[1948 Summer Olympics|1948]]
+| Regional cup first     = [[Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics|1948]]
-|Regional cup best = 4th place, [[1956 Summer Olympics|1956]]
+| Regional cup best      = Semi-finals ([[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956]])
-| 2ndRegional name = [[AFC Asian Cup|Asian Cup]]
+| 2ndRegional name       = [[AFC Asian Cup|Asian Cup]]
-| 2ndRegional cup apps = 4
+| 2ndRegional cup apps   = 5
-| 2ndRegional cup first = [[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964]]
+| 2ndRegional cup first  = [[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964]]
-| 2ndRegional cup best = Runners-up, [[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964]]
+| 2ndRegional cup best   =  Runners-up ([[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964]])
+| 3rdRegional name       = [[Football at the Asian Games|Asian Games]]
+| 3rdRegional cup apps   = 11
+| 3rdRegional cup first  = [[Football at the 1951 Asian Games|1951]]
+| 3rdRegional cup best   = '''Champions''' ([[Football at the 1951 Asian Games|1951]], [[Football at the 1962 Asian Games|1962]])
+| 4thRegional name       = [[SAFF Championship]]
+| 4thRegional cup apps   = 13
+| 4thRegional cup first  = [[1993 South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation Gold Cup|1993]]
+| 4thRegional cup best   =  '''Champions''' ([[1993 South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation Gold Cup|1993]], [[1997 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|1997]], [[1999 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|1999]], [[2005 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|2005]], [[2011 SAFF Championship|2011]], [[2015 SAFF Championship|2015]], [[2021 SAFF Championship|2021]], [[2023 SAFF Championship|2023]])
+| medaltemplates         =
+{{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
+{{MedalCompetition | [[AFC Asian Cup|Asian Cup]]}}
+{{MedalSilver | [[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964 Israel]]|[[1964 AFC Asian Cup squads#India|Team]]}}
+{{MedalCompetition | [[Football at the Asian Games|Asian Games]]}}
+{{MedalGold | [[Football at the 1951 Asian Games|1951 New Delhi]]|[[Football at the 1951 Asian Games – Men's team squads#India|Team]]}}
+{{MedalGold | [[Football at the 1962 Asian Games|1962 Jakarta]]|[[Football at the 1962 Asian Games – Men's team squads#India|Team]]}}
+{{MedalBronze | [[Football at the 1970 Asian Games|1970 Bangkok]]|[[Football at the 1970 Asian Games – Men's team squads#India|Team]]}}
+{{MedalCompetition |[[SAFF Championship]]}}
+{{MedalGold | [[1993 South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation Gold Cup|1993 Pakistan]]|Team}}
+{{MedalGold | [[1997 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|1997 Nepal]]|Team}}
+{{MedalGold | [[1999 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|1999 India]]|[[1999 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup squads|Team]]}}
+{{MedalGold | [[2005 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|2005 Pakistan]]|[[2005 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup squads|Team]]}}
+{{MedalGold | [[2011 SAFF Championship|2011 India]]|[[2011 SAFF Championship squads|Team]]}}
+{{MedalGold | [[2015 SAFF Championship|2015 India]]|[[2015 SAFF Championship squads|Team]]}}
+{{MedalGold | [[2021 SAFF Championship|2021 Maldives]]|[[2021 SAFF Championship squads|Team]]}}
+{{MedalGold | [[2023 SAFF Championship|2023 India]]|[[2023 SAFF Championship squads|Team]]}}
+{{MedalSilver | [[1995 South Asian Gold Cup|1995 Sri Lanka]]|[[1995 South Asian Gold Cup squads|Team]]}}
+{{MedalSilver | [[2008 SAFF Championship|2008 Maldives & Sri Lanka]]|[[2008 SAFF Championship squads|Team]]}}
+{{MedalSilver | [[2013 SAFF Championship|2013 Nepal]]|[[2013 SAFF Championship squads|Team]]}}
+{{MedalSilver | [[2018 SAFF Championship|2018 Bangladesh]]|[[2018 SAFF Championship squads|Team]]}}
+{{MedalBronze | [[2003 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|2003 Bangladesh]]|[[2003 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup squads|Team]]}}
+}}
+The '''India national football team''' represents India in international [[Association football|football]] and is governed by the [[All India Football Federation]] (AIFF) and is under the global jurisdiction of [[FIFA]]. It is governed in Asia by the [[Asian Football Confederation]] (AFC) and in South Asia by [[South Asian Football Federation]] (SAFF) — both of which were co-founded by the Indian team's supervising body, the AIFF.<ref name="afc founding member">{{cite web |title=AFC's 63rd anniversary: Seven events that shaped Asian football |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/news/afcs_63rd_anniversary_seven_events_that_shaped_asian_football.html |publisher=the-AFC.com|date= 8 May 2017 | accessdate= 19 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518191829/https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/news/afcs_63rd_anniversary_seven_events_that_shaped_asian_football.html |archive-date=18 May 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="saff founding member">{{cite web |title=The unity of the South Asian Countries playing football |url=https://saffederation.org/about-us |publisher=SAFF|date= | accessdate= 19 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518192918/https://saffederation.org/about-us |archive-date=18 May 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>
+The team, which was once considered one of the best teams in [[Asia]], had its golden era during the 1950s and early 1960s. During this period, under the coaching of [[Syed Abdul Rahim]], India won the gold medal at the [[Football at the 1951 Asian Games|1951]] and [[Football at the 1962 Asian Games|1962]] [[Asian Games]] while finishing fourth at the [[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956]] [[1956 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]. India has never participated in the [[FIFA World Cup]], although they did qualify by default for the [[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950 World Cup]] after all other nations in their qualification group withdrew. However, India withdrew prior to the beginning of the tournament. The team has also appeared four times in the [[AFC Asian Cup]], Asia's top football championship and finished as runners-up in [[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964]]. India also participates in the [[SAFF Championship]], the top regional football competition in [[South Asia]]. They have won the tournament record nine times since its inception in 1993.
+In the 21st century, besides the SAFF Championship triumphs, under the guidance of [[Bob Houghton]], India won the [[Nehru Cup]] in [[2007 Nehru Cup|2007]], [[2009 Nehru Cup|2009]] and the [[2008 AFC Challenge Cup]]. The Challenge Cup victory allowed India to once again qualify for the Asian Cup after 27 years.
+== History ==
+{{Main|History of the India national football team}}<!--Remember, this is supposed to be just a summary. More detailed and specific information goes to the History of India national football team article.-->
+=== Early years (1930s–1940s) ===
+{{multiple image
+| align             = left
+| direction         = horizontal
+| image1            = India & all European team 1938 Calcutta Charity match.jpg
+| width1            = 260
+| alt1              = Aerial photo of packed stadium
+| image2            = India national team at Olympics 1948.jpg
+| width2            = 180
+| alt2              = Stadium interior, photographed from the grandstand
+| footer            = In the top image, Indian team (in white jersey) and all European team (in black jersey), together before a match held in Calcutta on 1 July 1938. In bottom image, [[ Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads #India|India side]] that participated in the [[Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics |1948 Olympics]]' match against [[France national football team|France]].
+| total_width       =
+| caption1          =
+| caption2          =
+}}
+The first known official international tour of the Indian team, which at that time consisted of both Indian and British players, was in 1924 when it was led by Indian footballer [[Gostha Pal]].<ref name="pedia.desibantu.com">{{cite web|url=https://pedia.desibantu.com/gostha-pal/|title=Gostha Pal|date=3 March 2010|access-date=2018-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820141524/https://pedia.desibantu.com/gostha-pal/|archive-date=20 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
+Football teams consisting of entirely Indian players started to tour [[Australia]], [[Japan]], [[Indonesia]], and [[Thailand]] during the late 1930s. The first international match India played before independence is yet to be verified, but they are known to have played [[Sri Lanka national football team|Ceylon]] in 1933, winning 1–0.<ref name="pedia.desibantu.com"/><ref name="kolkatafootball.com" /><ref name="thehardtackle.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/legends-of-indian-football-gostha-pal/|title=LEGENDS OF INDIAN FOOTBALL : GOSTHA PAL|date=20 August 2011|access-date=2018-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820140949/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/legends-of-indian-football-gostha-pal/|archive-date=20 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
+In the year 1937, India carried out a lengthy tour of Australia at the request of the [[Football Federation Australia|Australian Football Association]]. From August to October, they played 17 matches against various state, district, and club teams, and 5 friendly matches against the [[Australia national soccer team|Australian national team]].<ref name="1938 fifa recognised matchlist">{{cite web |title=Matches 1938 |url=https://www.fifa.com/live-scores/teams/country=ind/men/matches/index.html#year1938 |website=fifa.com |publisher=FIFA |access-date=24 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924110047/https://www.fifa.com/live-scores/teams/country=ind/men/matches/index.html#year1938 |archive-date=24 September 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first of these, on 3 September in [[Sydney]], is India's first international game to be recognised by FIFA, and ended in a 5–3 defeat.<ref name="1938 fifa recognised matchlist"/> After drawing the second match in [[Brisbane]] 4–4, India won the third match at [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]] 4–1 to claim their first international win.<ref name="1938 aus tour result"/>
+The national team played their first match as an independent nation in the first round of the [[1948 Summer Olympics]] against [[France national football team|France]], in a 2–1 defeat. Famously, the Indian team did not wear boots, playing either barefoot or in socks, something that would be banned by FIFA later in the year.<ref name="Pierre">{{cite web |url=http://pierretristam.com/pdfs/wc10.pdf |title=Triumphs and Disasters: The Story of Indian Football, 1889—2000. |access-date=20 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813081005/http://pierretristam.com/pdfs/wc10.pdf |archive-date=13 August 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="LA Times">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/sports-now/story/2011-07-19/did-india-withdraw-from-the-1950-world-cup-because-they-were-not-allowed-to-play-barefoot#:~:text=SOCCER%2FFOOTBALL%20LEGEND%3A%20India%20withdrew,not%20allowed%20to%20play%20barefoot.&text=India%20surprised%20the%20world%20with,Summer%20Olympics%20in%20London%2C%20England|title=Did India withdraw from the 1950 World Cup because they were not allowed to play barefoot?|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=19 July 2011|access-date=12 November 2022|first=Brian|last=Cronin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111124551/https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/sports-now/story/2011-07-19/did-india-withdraw-from-the-1950-world-cup-because-they-were-not-allowed-to-play-barefoot|archive-date=11 November 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Efn|India actually were tied with France at 1 goal all 70 minutes.}}
+=== Golden years (1950s–1960s) ===
+In 1950, India managed to qualify for the [[1950 FIFA World Cup]], which was scheduled to take place in [[Brazil]], after all the other teams in their [[1950 FIFA World Cup qualification#Group 10|qualifying group]] withdrew. However, India themselves withdrew from the tournament shortly before it began; officially, this was due to travel costs, but FIFA had offered to pay the team's travel expenses, and the real reason behind their withdrawal has been widely speculated in the decades since.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.timesnownews.com/fifa-football-world-cup-2018-russia/article/why-did-india-withdraw-from-fifa-world-cup/239363 | title=FIFA World Cup: Here's why India withdrew from quadrennial event in 1950 despite qualifying | publisher=Times Now | date=12 June 2018 | accessdate=30 July 2021 | archive-date=29 July 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729214934/https://www.timesnownews.com/fifa-football-world-cup-2018-russia/article/why-did-india-withdraw-from-fifa-world-cup/239363 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Lisi (2007), p. 49</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=7/overview.html |title=1950 FIFA World Cup Brazil – Overview |publisher=[[FIFA]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318000125/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition%3D7/overview.html |archive-date=18 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://worldfootballindex.com/2018/07/india-1950-world-cup-barefoot/ | title=Were India Banned From World Cup 1950 For Wanting To Play Barefoot? | publisher=World Football Index | work=Peter Jones | date=11 July 2018 | accessdate=30 July 2021 | archive-date=24 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024001231/https://worldfootballindex.com/2018/07/india-1950-world-cup-barefoot/ | url-status=live }}</ref> While it was commonly believed that India withdrew due to FIFA's ban on playing barefoot, the team's captain at that time, [[Sailen Manna]], insisted that this was not the case; it is now generally accepted that India withdrew simply because they valued the Olympics more than the World Cup and did not view the latter is being prestigious enough to justify taking part.<ref name="LA Times"/><ref name="Brazil">{{cite news |last1=Kapadia |first1=Novy |date=2 July 2013 |title=The 1950 FIFA World Cup: A missed opportunity for India |work=SportsKeeda |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/the-1950-fifa-world-cup-a-missed-opportunity-for-india |url-status=live |access-date=17 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112300/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/the-1950-fifa-world-cup-a-missed-opportunity-for-india |archive-date=22 March 2017}}</ref> Since then, India have yet to qualify for another World Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianfootball.de/data/worldcupq.html|title=Indian football.de 1950 World Cup|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=14 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614204013/http://www.indianfootball.de/data/worldcupq.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+[[File:India national football team at1956 Olympics.png|160px|thumb|left|alt=India national team playing against Australia at Olympic Park stadium, Melbourne in 1956 Olympics|Indian team at a tussle against Bulgaria at the [[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Olympics]].]]
+Despite not participating in the World Cup in 1950, the following years until 1964 are usually considered to be the "golden era" of the Indian football.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chaseyoursport.com/Football/The-Golden-Years-of-Indian-Football/659|title=The Golden Years of Indian Football|website=www.chaseyoursport.com|publisher=Chase Your Sport|location=Kolkata|first=Rounak|last=Majumdar|date=22 April 2019|access-date=28 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107230046/https://www.chaseyoursport.com/Football/The-Golden-Years-of-Indian-Football/659|archive-date=7 November 2020}}</ref> India, coached by Hyderabad City Police head coach [[Syed Abdul Rahim]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sengupta|first=Somnath|title=Tactical Evolution of Indian Football (Part Two): Revolution Under Rahim Saab|url=https://thehardtackle.com/2011/tactical-evolution-of-indian-football-part-two-revolution-under-rahim-saab/|location=Kolkata|date=13 July 2011|access-date=2021-03-16|website=thehardtackle.com|publisher=The Hard Tackle|language=en-US|archive-date=25 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025021904/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/tactical-evolution-of-indian-football-part-two-revolution-under-rahim-saab/}}</ref> became one of the best teams in [[Asia]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Article written by Somnath Sengupta |url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/index.php/legends-of-indian-football-rahim-saab/ |title=Legends of Indian Football: Rahim Saab |publisher=Thehardtackle.com |date=26 December 2010 |access-date=20 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615042007/http://www.thehardtackle.com/index.php/legends-of-indian-football-rahim-saab/ |archive-date=15 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/amp/posts/index/Hans/2018-07-14/Old-timers-recollect-past-glory-of-city-football/398165|title=Old-timers recollect past glory of city football|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022162920/https://www.thehansindia.com/amp/posts/index/Hans/2018-07-14/Old-timers-recollect-past-glory-of-city-football/398165|archive-date=22 October 2021|publisher=[[The Hans India]]|date=14 July 2018|access-date=5 September 2021|first=Mohammed|last=Nizamuddin|location=[[Hyderabad]], Telangana}}</ref> In March 1951, Rahim led India to their first ever triumph during the [[Football at the 1951 Asian Games|1951 Asian Games]], hosted in India. The team defeated [[Iran national football team|Iran]] 1–0 in the gold medal match to win their first trophy.<ref name="March 1951">{{cite web|last1=Ghoshal|first1=Amoy|title=Indian football team at the Asian Games: 1951 New Delhi|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/indian-football-team-at-the-asian-games-1951-new-delhi|website=SportsKeeda|date=15 August 2014 |access-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112033/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/indian-football-team-at-the-asian-games-1951-new-delhi|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="The Indian Ferguson">{{cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/amp/football/syed-abdul-rahim-the-indian-ferguson|title=Syed Abdul Rahim: The Indian Ferguson {{!}} The visionary who guided India to their greatest success|website=www.sportskeeda.com|publisher=Sportskeeda|date=4 September 2015|access-date=20 August 2022|first=Faizan|last=Qadiri|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820151814/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/syed-abdul-rahim-the-indian-ferguson|archive-date=20 August 2022}}</ref> [[Sahu Mewalal]] scored the winning goal for India in that match.<ref name="March 1951"/> The following year, India competed in the [[1952 Olympic Games]] in [[Helsinki]], but were unused to the cold conditions<ref name="Pierre"/> and lost 10–1 to [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Arunava Chaudhuri |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1952olympics.html |title=The Indian Senior Team at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics |publisher=Indianfootball.de |access-date=20 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203000534/http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1952olympics.html |archive-date=3 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Following this defeat, the AIFF made it mandatory for footballers to wear boots.<ref name="Pierre"/> After taking the defeat in Helsinki [[Finland]], India participated in various minor tournaments, such as the [[Colombo Cup]], which they won four times from 1952 to 1955.<ref>{{cite web|title=Colombo Cup|url=http://www.indianfootball.de/data/colombocup.html|website=IndianFootball.De|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416014805/http://www.indianfootball.de/data/colombocup.html|archive-date=16 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
+In [[1954 Asian Games|1954]], India returned to the Asian Games as defending champions in [[Manila]]. Despite their achievement three years prior, India was unable to go past the group stage as the team finished second in Group C during the tournament, two points behind [[Indonesia national football team|Indonesia]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Asian Games 1954|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames54.html|website=RSSSF|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420135938/http://rsssf.com/tablesa/asgames54.html|archive-date=20 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Two years later, at the [[1956 Summer Olympics]], India went on to achieve the team's greatest result in a competitive tournament. The [[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads|team]] finished in fourth place during the Summer Olympics football tournament, losing the bronze-medal match to [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]] 3–0. The tournament is also known for [[Neville D'Souza]]'s hat-trick against [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] in the quarterfinals. D'Souza's hat-trick was the first scored by an Asian in Olympic history.<ref name="Melbourne"/> India defeated Australia by 4–2 in that match at the [[Olympic Park Stadium (Melbourne)|Olympic Park Stadium]].<ref name="Melbourne">{{cite web|title=Melbourne, 1956|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/melbourne1956/|website=FIFA|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122235009/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/melbourne1956/|archive-date=22 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
+[[File:1960 Olympics India football team.jpg|200px|thumb|right|alt=India national football team photo session before 1960 Olympics|[[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads|Indian team]] at the [[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics|1960 Olympics]], Coach Syed Abdul Rahim at the front row centre and captain P. K. Banerjee on his right side.]]
+After their good performance during the Summer Olympics, India participated in the [[Football at the 1958 Asian Games|1958 Asian Games]] in [[Tokyo]]. The team once again finished fourth, losing the bronze-medal match to Indonesia 4–1.<ref>{{cite web |author=Arunava Chaudhuri |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1958asiangames.html |title=The Indian Senior Team at the 1958 Tokyo Asian Games |publisher=Indianfootball.de |access-date=20 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002162137/http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1958asiangames.html |archive-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The next year the team travelled to [[Malaysia]] where they took part in the [[1959 Merdeka Tournament|1959 Merdeka tournament]] and finished as the tournament runners-up.<ref>{{cite web |author=Arunava Chaudhuri |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1959merdekacup.html |title=The Indian Senior Team at the 1959 Merdeka Cup |publisher=Indianfootball.de |access-date=20 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002162144/http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1959merdekacup.html |archive-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
+India began the 1960s with the [[1960 AFC Asian Cup qualification|1960 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers]]. Despite the qualifiers for the West Zone being held in [[Kochi]], India finished last in their qualification group and thus missed out the tournament.<ref>{{cite web |author=Arunava Chaudhuri |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1960asiacupq.html |title=The Indian Senior Team at the 1960 Seoul Asia Cup Qualifiers |publisher=Indianfootball.de |access-date=20 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002162157/http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1960asiacupq.html |archive-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Despite the set-back, India went on to win the gold medal during the Asian Games for the second time in 1962. The team defeated [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] 2–1 to win their second major championship.<ref>{{cite web |author=Arunava Chaudhuri |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1962asiangames.html |title=The Indian Senior Team at the 1962 D'Jakarta Asian Games |publisher=Indianfootball.de |access-date=20 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002162213/http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1962asiangames.html |archive-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
+Two years later, following their Asian Games triumph, India participated in the [[1964 AFC Asian Cup]] after all the other teams in their qualification group withdrew. Despite their automatic entry into the continental tournament, [[1964 AFC Asian Cup squads|India team]] managed to finish as the runners-up during the tournament, losing out to the hosts, [[Israel national football team|Israel]], by two points. This remains India's best performance in the AFC Asian Cup.<ref>{{cite web |first=Arunava |last=Chaudhuri |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1964asiacup.html |title=The Indian Senior Team at the 1964 Tel Aviv Asia Cup |publisher=Indianfootball.de |access-date=20 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002162221/http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1964asiacup.html |archive-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
+=== Decline (1970s–2000) ===
+[[File:India v argentina 1984.jpg|thumb|left|200px|alt= A still from India vs Argentina, India's only match against the opponents.|India vs [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] match at the [[Eden Gardens]] during the [[1984 Nehru Cup]].]]
+India returned to the Asian Games in [[1966 Asian Games|1966]]. Despite their performance two years prior during the [[AFC Asian Cup]], India could not go beyond the group stage as the team finished third, behind [[Japan national football team|Japan]] and [[Iran national football team|Iran]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Arunava Chaudhuri |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1966asiangames.html |title=The Indian Senior Team at the 1966 Bangkok Asian Games |publisher=Indianfootball.de |access-date=20 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002162235/http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1966asiangames.html |archive-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Four years later, during the [[1970 Asian Games]], India came back and took third place during the tournament. The team defeated Japan 1–0 during the bronze-medal match.<ref>{{cite web |author=Arunava Chaudhuri |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1970asiangames.html |title=The Indian Senior Team at the 1970 Bangkok Asian Games |publisher=Indianfootball.de |access-date=20 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002162324/http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1970asiangames.html |archive-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+In 1974, India's performance in the Asian Games once again sharply declined as they finished the [[1974 Asian Games|1974]] edition in last place in their group, losing all three matches, scoring two, and conceding 14 goals in the first round.<ref>{{cite web|title=Asian Games 1974|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames74.html|website=RSSSF|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922025244/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/asgames74.html|archive-date=22 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> India then showed steady improvement during the [[1978 Asian Games|1978]] tournament, finishing second in their group of three. The team were then knocked-out in the next round, finishing last in their group with three defeats from three matches.<ref>{{cite web|title=Asian Games 1978|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames78.html|website=RSSSF|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109205659/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/asgames78.html|archive-date=9 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[1982 Asian Games|1982 tournament]] proved to be better for India as the side managed to qualify for the quarter-finals before losing to [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] 1–0.<ref>{{cite web|title=Asian Games 1982|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames82.html|website=RSSSF|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109213241/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/asgames82.html|archive-date=9 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
+In 1984, India managed to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup for the first time since their second place triumph in 1964. During the [[1984 AFC Asian Cup|1984 tournament]], India finished in last place in their five team group in the first round.<ref name="1984 tournament">{{cite web |author=Arunava Chaudhuri |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1984asiacup.html |title=The Indian Senior Team at the 1984 Singapore Asia Cup |publisher=Indianfootball.de |access-date=20 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002162346/http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1984asiacup.html |archive-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> India's only non-defeat during the tournament came against Iran, a 0–0 draw.<ref name="1984 tournament"/>
+Despite India's decline from a major football power in Asia, the team still managed to assert its dominance as the top team in [[South Asia]]. India managed to win the football competition of the [[Football at the South Asian Games|South Asian Games]] in [[Football at the 1985 South Asian Games|1985]] and then again won the gold medal in [[Football at the 1987 South Asian Games|1987]].<ref name="SAG">{{cite web|title=South Asian Games|url=http://www.indianfootball.de/data/saf-games.html|website=IndianFootball.De|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021175146/http://www.indianfootball.de/data/saf-games.html|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The team then began the 1990s by winning the inaugural [[SAFF Championship]] in [[1993 South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation Gold Cup|1993]] and silver medal at the [[Football at the 1993 South Asian Games|1993 South Asian Games]]. In February 1996, India achieved its highest FIFA ranking of 94, under [[Bhaichung Bhutia]]'s captaincy.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=29 June 2023|last=Nag|first=Utathya |title=Indian football's FIFA Rankings: Analysing the rise and fall since 1992 |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/india-football-team-rankings-world-fifa-best-worst-position-points-table |url-status=live |access-date=13 July 2023 |website=olympics.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331031347/https://olympics.com/en/news/india-football-team-rankings-world-fifa-best-worst-position-points-table|archive-date=31 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="SAFF">{{cite news|title=SAFF Championship: Remembering India's SAFF title triumphs|url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2013/saff-championship-remembering-indias-saff-title-triumphs/|access-date=17 March 2017|work=The Hard Tackle|date=27 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112729/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2013/saff-championship-remembering-indias-saff-title-triumphs/|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The team ended the 20th century by winning the SAFF Championship again in [[1997 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|1997]] and [[1999 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|1999]].<ref name="SAFF"/>
+=== Resurgence (2001–2011) ===
+[[File:A view of ONGC Nehru Football Cup between India- Syria, in New Delhi on August 29, 2007.jpg|right|180px|thumb|alt=A view of ONGC Nehru Football Cup between India and Syria|India playing against [[Syria national football team|Syria]] at the [[2007 Nehru Cup]]]]
+India's first competitive matches of the 21st century were the [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round|2002 FIFA World Cup first round qualifiers]]. India took a very bright start, defeating the [[United Arab Emirates national football team|United Arab Emirates]] 1–0, drawing [[Yemen national football team|Yemen]] 1–1, as well as two victories over [[Brunei national football team|Brunei]], including a 5–0 victory in [[Bangalore]]. However, they finished a point away from qualification for the next round.<ref>{{cite web|title=World Cup qualifying|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2002q.html|website=RSSSF|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116173331/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/2002q.html|archive-date=16 January 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2003, India took part in the [[2003 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|2003 SAFF Championship]]. The team qualified for the semi-finals but fell to [[Bangladesh national football team|Bangladesh]] 2–1.<ref>{{cite web|title=SAFF 2003|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold02.html|website=RSSSF|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324135047/http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/saffgold02.html|archive-date=24 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
+Later in 2003, India participated in the [[Football at the 2003 Afro-Asian Games|Afro-Asian Games]] being held in [[Hyderabad]]. Under the coaching of [[Stephen Constantine]], India managed to make it to the final of the tournament after defeating [[Zimbabwe national football team|Zimbabwe]], a team ranked 85 places above India in the [[FIFA rankings]] at the time, 5–3.<ref name="Stephen">{{cite news|title=Constantine's rising stock|url=http://www.indianfootball.de/article/article163.html|access-date=17 March 2017|work=IndianFootball.De|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112033/http://www.indianfootball.de/article/article163.html|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite the major victory, during the gold-medal match India were defeated 1–0 by [[Uzbekistan national under-23 football team|Uzbekistan]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Uzbekistan win football gold|url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/2003/oct/31foot1.htm|access-date=17 March 2017|work=Rediff|date=23 October 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112535/http://www.rediff.com/sports/2003/oct/31foot1.htm|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Because of this achievement, Constantine was voted as the [[Asian Football Confederation]]'s Manager of the Month for October 2003. The tournament result also gave India more recognition around the country and around the world.<ref name="Stephen"/>
+[[File:The captain of Indian Football team, Shri Bhaichung Bhutia celebrating alongwith other players after winning the final of Nehru Football Cup between India and Syria, in New Delhi on August 29, 2007.jpg|left|200px|thumb|alt=Bhaichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri holding the Indian National flag.|The captain of Indian Football team, Bhaichung Bhutia celebrating along with other players after winning the 2007 Nehru Cup final.]]
+Constantine was replaced by [[Syed Nayeemuddin]] in 2005 but the Indian head coach only lasted for a little over a year as India suffered many heavy defeats during the [[2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification|2007 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers]].<ref>{{cite news|title=National football team's coach sacked|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/national-football-team-s-coach-sacked/story-E3GhmqEJs5QoF4fCbAGZyJ.html|access-date=17 March 2017|work=Hindustan Times|date=9 March 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322111709/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/national-football-team-s-coach-sacked/story-E3GhmqEJs5QoF4fCbAGZyJ.html|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> During this time India were defeated 6–0 by [[Japan national football team|Japan]], 3–0 by [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] and [[Yemen national football team|Yemen]] respectively at home, and 7–1 away in [[Jeddah]].<ref>{{cite web|title=AFC Asian Cup 2007|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/07asch.html|website=RSSSF|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181313/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/07asch.html|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Former [[Malmö FF|Malmö]] and [[China national football team|China]] coach [[Bob Houghton]] was brought in as head coach in May 2006.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bob Houghton is India's football coach|url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/2006/may/28foot.htm|access-date=17 March 2017|work=Rediff|date=28 May 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322202639/http://www.rediff.com/sports/2006/may/28foot.htm|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
+Under Houghton, India witnessed massive improvement in their football standing. In August 2007, Houghton won the country the restarted [[Nehru Cup]] after India defeated [[Syria national football team|Syria]] 1–0 in the final.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nehru Cup 2007|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nehru07.html|work=RSSSF|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522145716/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesn/nehru07.html|archive-date=22 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Pappachen Pradeep]] scored the winning goal for India that match. The next year, Houghton led India during the [[2008 AFC Challenge Cup]], which was hosted in [[Hyderabad]] and [[Delhi]]. During the tournament, India breezed through the group stage before defeating [[Myanmar national football team|Myanmar]] in the semi-finals. In the final against [[Tajikistan national football team|Tajikistan]], India, through a [[Sunil Chhetri]] hat-trick, won the match [[2008 AFC Challenge Cup Final|4–1]]. The victory not only earned India the championship but it also allowed India to qualify for the [[2011 AFC Asian Cup]], the nation's first Asian Cup appearance in 27 years.<ref>{{cite news|title=India win AFC Challenge Cup|url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/report/afc/20080813.htm|access-date=17 March 2017|work=[[Rediff.com]]|date=13 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322111543/http://www.rediff.com/sports/report/afc/20080813.htm|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In order to prepare for the Asian Cup, Houghton had the team stay together as a squad for eight months from June 2010 until the start of the tournament, meaning the players would not play for their clubs.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rizvi|first1=Ahmed|title=Houghton prepares in earnest|url=http://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/houghton-prepares-in-earnest|access-date=17 March 2017|work=The National|date=7 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112203/http://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/houghton-prepares-in-earnest|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
+India were drawn into Group C for the Asian Cup with [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]], [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]], and [[Bahrain national football team|Bahrain]].<ref>{{cite news|title=AFC Asian Cup 2011: Group C preview|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2011/01/04/afc-asian-cup-2011-group-c-preview|access-date=17 March 2017|work=The World Game|date=9 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322113553/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2011/01/04/afc-asian-cup-2011-group-c-preview|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Even though they stayed together as a team for eight months, India lost all three of their matches during the Asian Cup, including a 4–0 defeat to Australia.<ref name="Asian Cup">{{cite news|title=INDIA IN AFC ASIAN CUP 2011: PERFORMANCE REVIEW|url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/india-in-afc-asian-cup-2011-performance-review/|access-date=17 March 2017|work=The Hard Tackle|date=20 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023161845/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/india-in-afc-asian-cup-2011-performance-review/|archive-date=23 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite the results, India were praised by fans and pundits for their valiant efforts during the tournament.<ref name="Asian Cup"/>
+=== Recent history (2011–present) ===
+After participating the [[2011 AFC Asian Cup]], India's campaign to qualify for the [[2015 AFC Asian Cup|2015 Asian Cup]] began in February 2011 with the [[2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification|AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers]]. Bob Houghton decided to change the makeup of the India squad, replacing many of the older players from the Asian Cup with some young players from the AIFF development side in the [[I-League]], [[Indian Arrows]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sengupta|first1=Rahul|title=AIFF Announces New Look Indian Squad for the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1582/afc-challenge-cup/2011/02/17/2356458/indian-national-team-aiff-announces-new-look-indian-squad|access-date=17 March 2017|work=Goal.com|date=17 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112211/http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1582/afc-challenge-cup/2011/02/17/2356458/indian-national-team-aiff-announces-new-look-indian-squad|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Even with a young side, India managed to qualify for the AFC Challenge Cup.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Deb|first1=Debapriya|title=2012 AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers: team India performance report card – Part 1|url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/2012-afc-challenge-cup-qualifiers-team-india-preformance-report-card-part-1/|access-date=17 March 2017|work=The Hard Tackle|date=27 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112705/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/2012-afc-challenge-cup-qualifiers-team-india-preformance-report-card-part-1/|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite qualifying for the AFC Challenge Cup, the AIFF decided to terminate the contract of Bob Houghton as he was charged with racial abuse towards referee<ref>{{cite web |title=Houghton's tenure as Indian football coach over: sources |date=21 April 2011 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Houghtons-tenure-as-Indian-football-coach-over-sources/articleshow/8047952.cms |work=The Times of India|access-date=4 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014043848/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Houghtons-tenure-as-Indian-football-coach-over-sources/articleshow/8047952.cms |archive-date=14 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=Dean |title=India to sack British football manager Bob Houghton over racism allegations |date=24 February 2011 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/8345292/India-to-sack-British-football-manager-Bob-Houghton-over-racism-allegations.html |work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |access-date=4 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315032943/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/8345292/India-to-sack-British-football-manager-Bob-Houghton-over-racism-allegations.html |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> which ultimately resulted in his resignation as the head coach of India.<ref>{{cite web|title=Coach Bob Houghton resigns after bitter stand-off with AIFF|date=23 September 2011|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/coach-bob-houghton-resigns-after-bitter-standoff-with-aiff/780356/|work=The Indian Express|access-date=4 October 2019|archive-date=25 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325021909/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/coach-bob-houghton-resigns-after-bitter-standoff-with-aiff/780356/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Football coach Bob Houghton resigns after bitter stand-off with AIFF |date=23 April 2011 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/football/story/aiff-indian-football-coach-bob-houghton-resigns-132633-2011-04-23 |work=ITGD Bureau |publisher=India Today |access-date=4 October 2019 |archive-date=3 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703201604/https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/football/story/aiff-indian-football-coach-bob-houghton-resigns-132633-2011-04-23 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+After having [[Dempo SC|Dempo]] coach [[Armando Colaco]] as interim head coach,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/city/goa/i-was-not-given-time-to-get-results-with-national-team-armando-colaco/amp_articleshow/92308656.cms|title=Goa: "I was not given time to get results with national team" Armando Colaco|website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|publisher=[[The Times of India]]|date=19 June 2022|access-date=19 August 2022|first=Marcus|last=Mergulhao|agency=TNN|location=Panaji, Goa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618195510/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/i-was-not-given-time-to-get-results-with-national-team-armando-colaco/articleshow/92308656.cms|archive-date=18 June 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> the AIFF signed [[Savio Medeira]] as head coach in October 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=Indian Coach Profile – Savio Medeira|url=http://www.wifa.in/?p=356|date=30 November 2011|access-date=17 March 2017|website=wifa.in|publisher=[[Western India Football Association]]|location=Mumbai, Maharashtra|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112552/http://www.wifa.in/?p=356|archive-date=22 March 2017}}</ref> Medeira led India to another [[SAFF Championship]] victory, but also to their worst performance in the [[2012 AFC Challenge Cup|AFC Challenge Cup]] in March 2012. The team lost all three of their group matches, unable to score a single goal during the tournament.<ref>{{cite news|last1=De Sousa|first1=Jonathan|title=Indian football: AFC Challenge Cup 2012 Review – A look at the blue tigers|url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2012/afc-challenge-cup-2012-review-a-look-at-the-blue-tigers/|access-date=17 March 2017|work=The Hard Tackle|date=15 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112715/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2012/afc-challenge-cup-2012-review-a-look-at-the-blue-tigers/|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> After the tournament, Medeira was replaced as head coach by Dutchman, [[Wim Koevermans]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Ayush Srivastava|title=Wim Koevermans named as new India senior team coach|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2696/indian-national-team/2012/06/15/3176061/wim-koevermans-named-as-new-india-senior-team-coach|access-date=17 March 2017|work=Goal.com|date=15 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322203049/http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2696/indian-national-team/2012/06/15/3176061/wim-koevermans-named-as-new-india-senior-team-coach|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Koevermans' first job as head coach was the [[2012 Nehru Cup]]. India won their third successive Nehru Cup, defeating Cameroon on penalties.<ref>{{cite news|title=India beat Cameroon to win third successive Nehru Cup title|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-win-nehru-cup-beat-cameroon-5-4-on-penalties/1/215762.html|access-date=17 March 2017|work=India Today|date=2 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203223340/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-win-nehru-cup-beat-cameroon-5-4-on-penalties/1/215762.html|archive-date=3 February 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/india-rejoices-nehru-cup-treble-1694216|title=India rejoices Nehru Cup treble:FIFA.com|access-date=18 June 2021|archive-date=11 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611042730/https://www.fifa.com/news/india-rejoices-nehru-cup-treble-1694216|url-status=dead}}</ref>
+In March 2013, India failed to qualify for the [[2014 AFC Challenge Cup]] and thus also failed to qualify for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.<ref>{{cite news|title=India Lose To Myanmar in AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers|url=https://sports.ndtv.com/football/india-lose-to-myanmar-in-afc-challenge-cup-qualifiers-1539882|access-date=17 March 2017|work=NDTV Sports|date=7 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112138/https://sports.ndtv.com/football/india-lose-to-myanmar-in-afc-challenge-cup-qualifiers-1539882|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The team also failed to retain the SAFF Championship, losing 2–0 to [[Afghanistan national football team|Afghanistan]] in the [[2013 SAFF Championship|2013 final]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Noronha|first1=Anselm|title=Afghanistan are the SAFF Championship 2013 champions, beat India 2-0|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2773/saff-championship/2013/09/11/4253966/afghanistan-are-the-saff-championship-2013-champions-beat|access-date=17 March 2017|work=Goal.com|date=11 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122125312/http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2773/saff-championship/2013/09/11/4253966/afghanistan-are-the-saff-championship-2013-champions-beat|archive-date=22 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> After more bad results in friendlies, Koevermans resigned as head coach in October 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Indian football team goes down to Palestine; coach Koevermans resigns|url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/report/india-go-down-to-palestine-coach-koevermans-reisgns/20141006.htm|access-date=18 March 2017|work=Rediff|date=7 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112308/http://www.rediff.com/sports/report/india-go-down-to-palestine-coach-koevermans-reisgns/20141006.htm|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
+By March 2015, after not playing any matches, India reached their lowest FIFA ranking position of 173.<ref>{{cite news|title=India slip to 172 in latest FIFA rankings|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/india-slip-to-172-in-latest-fifa-rankings/|access-date=18 March 2017|work=Indian Express|date=5 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112111/http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/india-slip-to-172-in-latest-fifa-rankings/|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> A couple months prior, [[Stephen Constantine]] was re-hired as the head coach after first leading India more than a decade before.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stephen Constantine appointed Indian men's football head coach|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/stephen-constantine-appointed-indian-mens-football-head-coach/|access-date=18 March 2017|work=Indian Express|date=16 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723032805/http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/stephen-constantine-appointed-indian-mens-football-head-coach/|archive-date=23 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Constantine's first major assignment back as the India head coach were the [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)|2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers]]. After making it through the [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round|first round]] of qualifiers, India crashed out during the [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|second round]], losing seven of their eight matches and thus, once again, failed to qualify for the World Cup.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sequiera|first1=Sean|title=2018 World Cup qualification was never possible for India: Stephen Constantine|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/football/2018-world-cup-qualification-was-never-possible-for-india-stephen-constantine/story-NjePzFYIDLqdK755Uhb0pI.html|access-date=18 March 2017|work=Hindustan Times|date=5 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322181822/http://www.hindustantimes.com/football/2018-world-cup-qualification-was-never-possible-for-india-stephen-constantine/story-NjePzFYIDLqdK755Uhb0pI.html|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
+[[File:India NT at 2019 AFC Asian Cup.jpg|thumb|right|alt=India national team in away jersey, 2019|India playing XI against [[Thailand national football team|Thailand]] at [[2019 AFC Asian Cup Group A|2019 AFC Asian Cup]]]]
+Despite failure to qualify for the World Cup, India managed to reach the [[2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Third round|third round]] of [[2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification|2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers]] after defeating [[Laos national football team|Laos]] in the [[2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Play-off round|play-off round]] on aggregate 7–1.<ref>{{cite news|title=India thrashes Laos|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/India-thrashes-Laos/article14390090.ece|access-date=22 October 2017|work=The Hindu|date=7 June 2016|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703201605/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/India-thrashes-Laos/article14390090.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> On 11 October 2017, India secured qualification for the [[2019 AFC Asian Cup]] after a 4–1 victory over [[Macau national football team|Macau]].<ref>{{cite news|title=India qualify for AFC Asian Cup 2019|url=http://www.goal.com/en-in/news/india-afc-asian-cup-2019-qualify/coqv4dai2ho310c6g4l6nrsuq|access-date=22 October 2017|work=Goal.com|date=11 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023173855/http://www.goal.com/en-in/news/india-afc-asian-cup-2019-qualify/coqv4dai2ho310c6g4l6nrsuq|archive-date=23 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, India remained undefeated by drawing two and winning seven games, which helped the team to reach 96 in the FIFA ranking in May, which is its second highest FIFA rank ever.<ref name=":0" />
+Though defeated at the [[2018 SAFF Championship]] final 1–2 against [[Maldives national football team|Maldives]] in September 2018,<ref>{{cite news|title=SAFF Cup 2018: Youthfull India to face Maldives|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/saff-cup-2018-youthful-india-to-face-maldives|access-date=6 January 2019|work=Sportskeeda|date=9 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107072326/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/saff-cup-2018-youthful-india-to-face-maldives|archive-date=7 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> India regained the momentum with some friendlies against [[China national football team|China]], [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]] and [[Oman national football team|Oman]] as they began the [[2019 AFC Asian Cup]] with a 4–1 victory against [[Thailand national football team|Thailand]]; this was their biggest ever win at the Asia Cup, and their first in 55 years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Group A: Thailand 1-4 India|url=http://www.the-afc.com/asiancup/news/group-a-thailand-1-4-india|access-date=6 January 2019|work=The AFC.com|date=6 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106193050/http://www.the-afc.com/asiancup/news/group-a-thailand-1-4-india|archive-date=6 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=AFC Asian Cup 2019: Thailand 1-4 India, Player Ratings|url=https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1013371/afc-asian-cup-2019-thailand-1-4-india-player-ratings/|access-date=6 January 2019|work=FOX Sports Asia|date=6 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107072227/https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1013371/afc-asian-cup-2019-thailand-1-4-india-player-ratings/|archive-date=7 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Nevertheless, they lost both of their next two group matches against [[United Arab Emirates national football team|UAE]] and [[Bahrain national football team|Bahrain]] 0−2 and 0−1 respectively<ref>{{cite web |title=UAE Steal India'S Thunder |date=10 January 2019 |url=https://the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9421 |website=the-aiff.com |publisher=AIFF |access-date=14 January 2019 |archive-date=3 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703201619/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/uae-steal-indias-thunder |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, India vs Bahrain |url=http://stats.the-afc.com/match_report/13260 |website=the-afc.com |publisher=AFC |access-date=14 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118014146/http://stats.the-afc.com/match_report/13260 |archive-date=18 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> and finished at the bottom of the group, thus failed to move to knock out stage.<ref name="India 2019 AFC">{{cite web |author1=Ishfaq Ahmed |author2=Shiddant Aney |author3=Vaibhav Raghunandan|title=India Lose to Bahrain, Crash Out of AFC Asian Cup - Highlights and Analysis |date=14 January 2019|url=https://www.newsclick.in/india-vs-bahrain-afc-asian-cup-live-football-score-live-updates-ind-verge-history |website=newsclick.in |access-date=14 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115023439/https://www.newsclick.in/india-vs-bahrain-afc-asian-cup-live-football-score-live-updates-ind-verge-history |archive-date=15 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Stephen Constantine]] immediately resigned from his position as head coach following the failure to progress further in the tournament.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1019451/breaking-indian-head-coach-stephen-constantine-resigns-after-afc-asian-cup-exit/|title=Breaking: Indian head coach Stephen Constantine resigns after AFC Asian Cup exit|date=15 January 2019|website=FOX Sports Asia|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115023657/https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1019451/breaking-indian-head-coach-stephen-constantine-resigns-after-afc-asian-cup-exit/|archive-date=15 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
+On 15 May 2019, the AIFF announced former [[Croatia national football team|Croatian]] player and coach [[Igor Štimac]] as the team's head coach after the departure of Stephen Constantine.<ref>{{cite web|title=AIFF appoint's Igor Štimac as men's team head coach|date=15 May 2019|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9674|publisher=AIFF|access-date=15 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122155841/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9674|archive-date=22 November 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> His first major assignment with India was [[2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|2022 World Cup qualification]], where it began with a 1–2 home loss to [[Oman national football team|Oman]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Late Oman comeback sinks India |date=5 September 2019|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9899 |publisher=AIFF |access-date=8 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122155347/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9899|archive-date=22 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> But in the second match they earned a respectable point after managing a goalless draw against the [[2019 AFC Asian Cup Final|2019 Asian Champion]] and [[2022 FIFA World Cup]] host [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]].<ref>{{cite web|title=India holds Asian champion Qatar to goalless draw|date=11 September 2019|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9912|publisher=AIFF|access-date=8 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122155136/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9912|archive-date=22 November 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref name=":0" />However, in the third match, the [[Two-legged tie|home leg]] against [[Bangladesh national football team|Bangladesh]] saw them managing a disappointing 1−1 draw.<ref>{{cite web |title=India, Bangladesh play out a draw out in World Cup qualifier |date=15 October 2019|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9981 |publisher=AIFF |access-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122154445/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9981|archive-date=22 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> A similar result was repeated in the [[Two-legged tie|away leg]] against [[Afghanistan national football team|Afghanistan]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Super sub Doungel helps Blue Tigers earns a point in Dushanbe |url=https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=10027 |access-date=16 November 2019 |publisher=AIFF |date=14 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122154415/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=10027|archive-date=22 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In the away leg, India lost yet again to Oman by a solitary goal, thus shortening their hopes to qualify for the next round.<ref>{{cite web |title=India go down by a solitary goal in Muscat |url=https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=10041 |publisher=AIFF |access-date=22 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122153530/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=10041|archive-date=22 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> After several postponements due to [[COVID-19]], the team finally flew to [[Doha]] to play their remainder of games. In the return leg against Qatar, India went down to the hosts with a single goal and got knocked out of the World Cup qualification tournament with two games to spare. The team then made a comeback by winning their next match against Bangladesh 2–0, and ended their campaign with a 1–1 draw against Afghanistan. With seven points in total, India finished third on the table behind Qatar and Oman, thus getting eliminated from the [[2022 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] during the [[2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|second]] round. However they were qualified into the [[2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification – third round|third round]] of [[2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-15|title=India vs Afghanistan Highlights: Blue Tigers bag a point, qualify for 3rd round of 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/india-vs-afghanistan-live-score-streaming-7360158/|access-date=2021-06-15|website=The Indian Express|language=en|archive-date=28 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628193659/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/india-vs-afghanistan-live-score-streaming-7360158/|url-status=live}}</ref>
+In the [[2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification – third round|third round of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification]], India was drawn in the same group with [[Afghanistan national football team|Afghanistan]], [[Hong Kong national football team|Hong Kong]] and [[Cambodia national football team|Cambodia]]. Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], India was chosen as the host of the group of the qualifiers while the qualification was reduced into a single round robin format.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/afc-confirms-indias-bid-to-host-afc-asian-cup-china-2023-third-round-qualifiers-in-kolkata#:~:text=NEW%20DELHI%3A%20The%20Asian%20Football,at%20the%20VYBK%20in%20Kolkata.|title=AFC confirms India's bid to host AFC Asian Cup China 2023 third round Qualifiers in Kolkata|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008160316/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/afc-confirms-indias-bid-to-host-afc-asian-cup-china-2023-third-round-qualifiers-in-kolkata#:~:text=NEW%20DELHI%3A%20The%20Asian%20Football,at%20the%20VYBK%20in%20Kolkata.|url-status=live}}</ref> Using this home advantage, India was able to top the group with three wins against Cambodia (2–0), Afghanistan (2–1) and Hong Kong (4–0),  therefore for the first time, India qualified for two consecutive AFC Asian Cups in history.<ref name="2023AFCqual">{{cite web|first=Dhiman|last=Sarkar|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/football/india-get-to-asian-cup-with-a-four-goal-flourish-against-hong-kong-101655228874259.html|title=India get to Asian Cup with a four-goal flourish against Hong Kong|date=14 June 2022 |access-date=18 October 2022|archive-date=21 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921132901/https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/football/india-get-to-asian-cup-with-a-four-goal-flourish-against-hong-kong-101655228874259.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2022, India participated for the first time in the [[2022 VFF Tri-Nations Series|VFF Cup]] where they played two friendly matches, a 1–1 draw against [[Singapore national football team|Singapore]] and a 3–0 defeat by [[Vietnam national football team|Vietnam]], ending their year .<ref>{{cite news |title=Highlights India 1-1 Singapore: Ashique, Ikhsan goals keep scores level at FT; Both teams with a point |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football/india-vs-singapore-hung-thinh-tournament-live-score-updates-result-highlights-lineups/article65929625.ece |access-date=19 June 2023|agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |work=[[Sportstar]] |publisher=[[The Hindu]] |date=24 September 2022|archive-date=24 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924154332/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football/india-vs-singapore-hung-thinh-tournament-live-score-updates-result-highlights-lineups/article65929625.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=HIGHLIGHTS: Vietnam beats India 3-0, wins Hung Thinh friendly tournament |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/india-vs-vietnam-live-score-friendly-lineups-updates-hung-thinh-tournament-highlights/article65941659.ece |access-date=19 June 2023 |work=[[Sportstar]] |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |publisher=[[The Hindu]] |date=27 September 2022|archive-date=29 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329204051/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/india-vs-vietnam-live-score-friendly-lineups-updates-hung-thinh-tournament-highlights/article65941659.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2023, India began their campaign by winning the [[2023 Tri-Nation Series (India)|2023 Tri-Nation Series]] and the [[2023 Intercontinental Cup (India)|2023 Intercontinental Cup]], both were organized by AIFF. India beat [[Myanmar national football team|Myanmar]] 1–0 and [[Kyrgyzstan national football team|Kyrgyzstan]] 2–0 in the Tri-Nation series, and defeated [[Lebanon national football team|Lebanon]] 2–0 in the final of Intercontinental Cup to win the title for the second time.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sagar |first1=Sunaadh |title=Tri-Nations football: India show strength in depth but goals are a worry |url=https://www.espn.in/football/story/_/id/37637568/india-vs-kyrgyz-republic-tri-nations-takeaways-myanmar |website=espn.in |publisher=[[ESPN]] (India) |access-date=19 June 2023|date=29 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607183307/https://www.espn.in/football/story/_/id/37637568/india-vs-kyrgyz-republic-tri-nations-takeaways-myanmar|archive-date=7 June 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Rawat|first=Akhil |title=Champions! Chhetri and his knights make it a momentous night for India |date=18 June 2023 |url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/champions-chhetri-and-his-knights-make-it-a-momentous-night-for-india |publisher=AIFF |accessdate=18 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618173241/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/champions-chhetri-and-his-knights-make-it-a-momentous-night-for-india|archive-date=18 June 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the Tri-Nation Series and the Intercontinental Cup, India won the [[2023 SAFF Championship|2023 SAFF championship]], their third title in the year 2023 at home soil.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dey |first1=Aneesh |title=Technically and tactically, we're not there yet; we need improvement in all areas: Sunil Chhetri |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/sunil-chhetri-indian-football-team-performance-improvement-saff-championship-win-afc-asian-cup-2024/article67060193.ece |access-date=12 July 2023 |work=[[Sportstar]] |publisher=[[The Hindu]]|archive-date=9 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709235421/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/sunil-chhetri-indian-football-team-performance-improvement-saff-championship-win-afc-asian-cup-2024/article67060193.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> India defeated [[Pakistan national football team|Pakistan]] 4–0 and [[Nepal national football team|Nepal]] 2–0 and drawn 1–1 against [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]] in the group stage.<ref name="chhetrihattrick4AIFF">{{cite web |last1=Rawat |first1=Akhil |title=A Diamond is Forever: Super Sunil's hat-trick sinks Pakistan|publisher=AIFF|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/a-diamond-is-forever-super-sunils-hat-trick-sinks-pakistan |access-date=21 June 2023|date=21 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621175231/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/a-diamond-is-forever-super-sunils-hat-trick-sinks-pakistan|archive-date=21 June 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SAFF Championship 2023 match report: Nepal vs India |url=https://saffederation.org/uploads/64971d8ad1d63.pdf |publisher=[[South Asian Football Federation|SAFF]] |access-date=27 June 2023|date=24 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624175157/https://saffederation.org/uploads/64971d8ad1d63.pdf|archive-date=24 June 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SAFF Championship 2023 match report: India vs Kuwait|url=https://saffederation.org/uploads/649b1b22326b6.pdf |publisher=[[South Asian Football Federation|SAFF]] |access-date=27 June 2023|date=27 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627224534/https://saffederation.org/uploads/649b1b22326b6.pdf|archive-date=27 June 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> After defeating Lebanon in [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]] in the semi–finals, India faced Kuwait again in the tournament for the final. The match was tied 1–1 till the [[Overtime (sports)#Association football|added time]] and eventually India defeated Kuwait in the penalty shoot-out to lift the SAFF Cup for a record nine times. Sunil Chhetri was the highest goal scorer of the edition with 5 goals, including a hat-trick against Pakistan, his fourth for the national team. With this hat-trick, he score 92 goals becoming the second-[[List of men's footballers with 50 or more international goals|highest international goalscorer]] from Asia of all time. His tally of 92 put him as the fourth-highest goalscorer in the history of international football.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rawat |first1=Akhil |title=Double, double toil and treble: Blue Tigers bask in SAFF C'ship glory|publisher=AIFF|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/double-double-toil-and-treble-blue-tigers-bask-in-saff-cship-glory |access-date=12 July 2023|date=5 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712113849/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/double-double-toil-and-treble-blue-tigers-bask-in-saff-cship-glory|archive-date=12 July 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="chhetrihattrick4">{{cite news |title=Sunil Chhetri becomes fourth-highest goal-scorer in international football |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/sports/football/sunil-chhetri-becomes-fourth-highest-goal-scorer-in-international-football20230621230322/#:~:text=Karnataka%20(Bengaluru)%20%5BIndia%5D,scorer%20in%20international%20football%20history. |access-date=21 June 2023 |work=[[Asian News International]] |date=21 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621182322/https://www.aninews.in/news/sports/football/sunil-chhetri-becomes-fourth-highest-goal-scorer-in-international-football20230621230322/|archive-date=21 June 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
+== Team image ==
+=== Nicknames ===
+India is officially known by the nickname '' 'The Blue Tigers' '' since 2013. It is inspired by the colour [[blue]] which forms the primary colour of the team's home kit, depicting [[Ashoka Chakra]]'s colour in the [[Flag of India|national flag]] (similar to the Indian national teams of other sports) and the [[tiger]] which is the national animal of India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topendsports.com/sport/soccer/team-nicknames.htm|title=Football (Soccer) Team Nicknames|website=Topendsports|access-date=5 June 2021|archive-date=13 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813111201/http://www.topendsports.com/sport/soccer/team-nicknames.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/why-are-indian-cricket-team-hockey-team-and-other-sport-jerseys-blue-in-colour|title=Why are Indian Cricket Team, Hockey Team and other sport jerseys blue in colour?|publisher=Sportskeeda|date=1 April 2016|access-date=5 June 2021|archive-date=4 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604095341/https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/why-are-indian-cricket-team-hockey-team-and-other-sport-jerseys-blue-in-colour|url-status=live}}</ref>
+=== Kit and colours ===
+{{See also|History of the India national football team#Kit history|l1=Kit history}}
+The success of the [[India national cricket team|India cricket team]] and [[India men's national field hockey team|field hockey]] teams in blue jerseys made the colour more prominent. The football team, however, has used some sort of shade of blue for decades.<ref name="SK1">{{cite news |last1=Bharali |first1=Abhijit |title=The evolution of the Indian football team jersey over the years |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/the-evolution-of-the-india-football-team-jersey-over-the-years-aiff-blue-tigers-nike-adidas |access-date=13 December 2018 |work=SportsKeeda |date=16 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020095025/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/the-evolution-of-the-india-football-team-jersey-over-the-years-aiff-blue-tigers-nike-adidas |archive-date=20 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+[[File:Indian Team.JPG|upright=1.2|right|thumb|alt=Photo of eleven men, six standing and five kneeling down, inside a stadium|India in 2007, wearing their traditional blue jersey.|200px]]
+At the turn of the 21st century, India wore a sky blue shirt with black shorts and sky blue socks as their kit.<ref name="SK1"/> In 2002, the [[All India Football Federation]] signed a deal with German manufacturer [[Adidas]] to produce the India kit.<ref name="SK2">{{cite news |title=The evolution of the Indian football team jersey over the years |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/the-evolution-of-the-india-football-team-jersey-over-the-years-aiff-blue-tigers-nike-adidas/2 |access-date=13 December 2018 |work=SportsKeeda |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908092847/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/the-evolution-of-the-india-football-team-jersey-over-the-years-aiff-blue-tigers-nike-adidas/2 |archive-date=8 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The first kit made by Adidas was all-white.<ref name="SK2"/> After four years with Adidas, the AIFF signed an agreement for seven years with American company [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] on 27 February 2006.<ref name="HTK">{{cite news |title=Nike to sponsor Indian football team |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/nike-to-sponsor-indian-football-team/story-yMvyg4nWgfSVx91h9zRcPN.html |access-date=13 December 2018 |work=Hindustan Times |date=27 February 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908092748/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/nike-to-sponsor-indian-football-team/story-yMvyg4nWgfSVx91h9zRcPN.html |archive-date=8 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Nike's first kits for India were in darker blue while the away kit was changed from white to orange.<ref name="SK3">{{cite news |title=The evolution of the Indian football team jersey over the years |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/the-evolution-of-the-india-football-team-jersey-over-the-years-aiff-blue-tigers-nike-adidas/3 |access-date=13 December 2018 |work=SportsKeeda |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020095027/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/the-evolution-of-the-india-football-team-jersey-over-the-years-aiff-blue-tigers-nike-adidas/3 |archive-date=20 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> For the [[2011 AFC Asian Cup]], in which India were participating, Nike designed India's kit using the same template it used for other national teams such as [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sengupta |first1=Rahul |title=Indian National Team: Nike India Introduces 2010 National Team Kit For The Indian Football Team |url=https://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2696/indian-national-team/2010/09/06/2105985/indian-national-team-nike-india-introduces-2010-national |access-date=13 December 2018 |work=Goal.com |date=6 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214182458/https://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2696/indian-national-team/2010/09/06/2105985/indian-national-team-nike-india-introduces-2010-national |archive-date=14 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2013. it was announced that the AIFF's deal with Nike was extended for an extra five years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/nike-unveils-indian-national-football-team-kit|title=Nike unveils Indian national football team kit:AIFF.com|access-date=9 March 2021|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703201635/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/nike-unveils-indian-national-football-team-kit|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2017, prior to the [[India national under-17 football team|India U17]] side's participation in the [[2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup|FIFA U-17 World Cup]], Nike unveiled an all sky blue kit for the India senior and youth teams.<ref>{{cite news |title=India's New Football Kit Sets Blue Tigers Up to Create History |url=https://news.nike.com/news/india-football-kit |access-date=13 December 2018 |work=Nike |date=7 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023054617/https://news.nike.com/news/india-football-kit |archive-date=23 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> A year later, on 17 December 2018, it was announced that Indian manufacturer [[SIX5SIX]] would replace Nike as India's kit maker.<ref name="Six5Six">{{cite news |last1=Laghate |first1=Gaurav |title=Six5Six to replace Nike as Indian football's kit sponsor |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/six5six-to-replace-nike-as-indian-footballs-kit-sponsor/articleshow/67132557.cms |access-date=20 December 2018 |work=Economic Times |date=17 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220234930/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/six5six-to-replace-nike-as-indian-footballs-kit-sponsor/articleshow/67132557.cms |archive-date=20 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In becoming India's new kit makers, Six5Six also became the first manufacturer to pay for the rights to produce India kits, after both Nike and Adidas didn't pay.<ref name="Six5Six"/> Six5Six unveiled their first jerseys for the team before the [[2019 AFC Asian Cup]],<ref>{{cite web |title=NEW YEAR, NEW KIT FOR INDIAN FOOTBALL |url=https://the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9363 |website=the-aiff.com |publisher=AIFF |access-date=19 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220234917/https://the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9363 |archive-date=20 December 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> from which the home colour had a similar sky blue shade and the away colour was changed to white from orange. Both jerseys had a unique design embellished on the sleeves representing tiger stripes to pay homage to the Indian football fans, who affectionately calls the team "Blue Tigers".<ref>{{cite web |title=AFC Asian Cup 2019: India national team kit and price revealed |url=https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1002013/afc-asian-cup-2019-india-national-team-kit-and-price-revealed/ |website=foxsportsasia.com |publisher=Fox Sports |access-date=19 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220231655/https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1002013/afc-asian-cup-2019-india-national-team-kit-and-price-revealed/ |archive-date=20 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+=== Home stadiums ===
+{{See also|History of the India national football team#Home stadiums|l1=Home stadiums}}
+{{multiple image
+| align             = right
+| direction         = horizontal
+| image1            = Yuva Bharati Krirangan.png
+| width1            = 180
+| alt1              = Aerial photo of packed stadium
+| image2            = IndiavsSyria Nehru Cup-2007.jpg
+| width2            = 180
+| alt2              = Stadium interior, photographed from the grandstand
+| footer            = The [[Salt Lake Stadium]] in [[Kolkata]] ''(left)'' and the [[Ambedkar Stadium]] in [[Delhi]]
+| total_width       =
+| caption1          =
+| caption2          =
 }}
-'''India national football team''' is the national [[football (soccer)|football]] team of [[India]]. It has won the AFC challenge Cup in 2008 and ranks 150 in FIFA ranking (2014). The team is managed by Igor Stimac. They have been runners up of Asian Nations Cup (1964). Their best result is to feature in the fourth olympic football tournament's finals in 1956.
-==References==
+Numerous venues around India have hosted home matches for the national team. There is no specific home ground for the India national team. India matches have been played at stadiums such as the [[Salt Lake Stadium]] in [[Kolkata]], the [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Delhi)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]] in [[Delhi]], the [[Fatorda Stadium]] in [[Margao]], the [[Sree Kanteerava Stadium]] in [[Bangalore]], the [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Kochi)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]] in [[Kochi]], the [[Mumbai Football Arena]] in [[Mumbai]], the [[Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium]] in [[Guwahati]], the [[Khuman Lampak Main Stadium]] in [[Imphal]], the [[Kalinga Stadium]] in [[Bhubaneswar]] and the [[The Arena (Ahmedabad)|EKA Arena]] in [[Ahmedabad]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2011 SAFF Championship Stadium Guide: New Delhi – Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium |url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2773/saff-championship/2011/12/01/2781850/2011-saff-championship-stadium-guide-new-delhi-jawaharlal |website=goal.com |publisher=goal.com India |access-date=16 September 2018 |ref=JLN Stadium |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915042350/http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2773/saff-championship/2011/12/01/2781850/2011-saff-championship-stadium-guide-new-delhi-jawaharlal |archive-date=15 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sunil Chhetri strikes brace as India beat Malaysia 3-2 in international friendly |url=http://post.jagran.com/sunil-chhetri-strikes-brace-as-india-beat-malaysia-32-in-international-friendly-1321467694|work=Jagran Post|access-date=16 September 2018 |ref=Salt Lake Stadium |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915042534/http://post.jagran.com/sunil-chhetri-strikes-brace-as-india-beat-malaysia-32-in-international-friendly-1321467694 |archive-date=15 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=India vs Nepal at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275167/match=300311249/index.html#nosticky |website=fifa.com |publisher=FIFA |access-date=17 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017083214/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275167/match=300311249/index.html#nosticky |archive-date=17 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=India vs Iran at Sree Kranteerava Stadium |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317458/index.html |website=fifa.com |publisher=FIFA |access-date=16 September 2018 |ref=Kranteerava Stadium |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915042534/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317458/index.html |archive-date=15 September 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=FIVE-STAR INDIA EASE PAST CHINESE TAIPEI |url=https://the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=8982 |website=the-aiff.com |publisher=AIFF |access-date=16 September 2018 |ref=Mumbai Arena |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612150435/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=8982 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
-{{Reflist}}
+In recent times, competitions like [[2011 SAFF Championship]] and [[2012 Nehru Cup]] were held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi, the [[2015 SAFF Championship]] at [[Trivandrum International Stadium]], [[2017 Hero Tri-Nation Series]] and [[2018 Intercontinental Cup (India)|2018 Intercontinental Cup]] at Mumbai Football Arena and [[2019 Intercontinental Cup (India)|2019 Intercontinental Cup]] at the EKA Arena. Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Sree Kanteerava Stadium and Fatorda stadium have seen [[AFC Asian Cup]] and [[FIFA World Cup]] qualifiers.<ref>{{cite web |title=India at the SAFF Cup |url=http://www.wifa.in/india-at-the-saff-cup/ |website=wifa.in |date=30 November 2011 |publisher=WIFA |access-date=12 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112150308/http://www.wifa.in/india-at-the-saff-cup/ |archive-date=12 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=India win 2012 Nehru Cup |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/photos/india-win-2012-nehru-cup/photostory/16227789.cms |website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=3 September 2012 |publisher=TOI |access-date=12 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304083454/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/photos/india-win-2012-nehru-cup/photostory/16227789.cms |archive-date=4 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=India wins 2015 SAFF Cup: Who said what |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/india-wins-2015-saff-cup-who-said-what |website=sportskeeda.com |date=4 January 2016 |publisher=Sportskeeda |access-date=12 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112194929/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/india-wins-2015-saff-cup-who-said-what |archive-date=12 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=INDIA ARE HERO TRI-NATION FOOTBALL SERIES 2017 CHAMPIONS |url=https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=8405 |website=the-aiff.com |publisher=AIFF |access-date=12 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902085649/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=8405 |archive-date=2 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=OUR PRIMARY TARGET IS TO WIN THE TOURNAMENT: CONSTANTINE |url=https://the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9002 |website=the-aiff.com |publisher=AIFF |access-date=12 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206134855/https://the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9002 |archive-date=6 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=AFC ASIAN CUP UAE 2019 |url=http://cms.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=11142&stageid=432&tMode=H&view=ajax&show=matchsummary |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322204704/http://cms.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=11142&stageid=432&tMode=H&view=ajax&show=matchsummary |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 March 2018 |website=the-afc.com |publisher=AFC |access-date=12 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The experienced duo of Sunil Chhetri and Clifford Miranda were on target as India beat Nepal 2-0 in a comfortable win |url=https://www.goal.com/en-india/match/125247/india-vs-nepal/report |website=goal.com |publisher=[[Goal (website)|GOAL]] |access-date=12 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112151520/https://www.goal.com/en-india/match/125247/india-vs-nepal/report |archive-date=12 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+=== Supporters ===
+{{see also|Blue Pilgrims}}
+[[File:Blue Pilgrims at Mumbai 2018 to support India national football team.jpg|210px|thumb|left|alt=Blue Pilgrims, 2018 Intercontinental cup|Blue Pilgrims displaying [[Flag of India|national flag]] and their own banners at the [[2018 Intercontinental Cup (India)|2018 Intercontinental Cup]]]]
+Till the 21st century, the Indian football fans were mostly scattered, being widely based in [[West Bengal]], [[North-East India]], [[Goa]] and [[Kerala]].<ref name="supporters 1">{{cite news |title=Can Indian football make it to the top league? |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/can-indian-football-make-it-to-the-top-league/article24281691.ece |work=The Hindu|date=28 June 2018 |access-date=8 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705163221/https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/can-indian-football-make-it-to-the-top-league/article24281691.ece |archive-date=5 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Fifa World Cup 2018: Which Indian state watches football extravaganza the most? |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/fifa-world-cup-2018-which-indian-state-watches-football-extravaganza-most-774128 |work=IB Times|date=6 July 2018 |access-date=13 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114153251/https://www.ibtimes.co.in/fifa-world-cup-2018-which-indian-state-watches-football-extravaganza-most-774128 |archive-date=14 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=World Cup 2018: Sorry, Bengalis. You are not India's greatest football fans |url=https://www.dailyo.in/variety/world-cup-2018-russia-the-beautiful-game-begins-bengalis-fighting-football-frenzy-northeast-kerala-goa-mo-salah/story/1/24877.html |publisher=Daily O |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112095016/https://www.dailyo.in/variety/world-cup-2018-russia-the-beautiful-game-begins-bengalis-fighting-football-frenzy-northeast-kerala-goa-mo-salah/story/1/24877.html |archive-date=12 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bend it like Bengal: Every four years, the cup comes home |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/bend-it-like-bengal-every-four-years-the-cup-comes-home/article24358647.ece |work=The Hindu|date=7 July 2018 |access-date=13 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708180110/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/bend-it-like-bengal-every-four-years-the-cup-comes-home/article24358647.ece |archive-date=8 July 2018 |url-status=live |last1=Rajagopal |first1=Bulbul }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kolkata reinstated as the 'Mecca of Indian football' |url=https://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2292/editorials/2015/06/02/12315232/kolkata-reinstated-as-the-mecca-of-indian-football |website=goal.com |publisher=GOAL |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112145941/https://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2292/editorials/2015/06/02/12315232/kolkata-reinstated-as-the-mecca-of-indian-football |archive-date=12 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other than matches in [[Asian Games]], [[Nehru Cup]] or [[SAFF Championship]],<ref>{{cite web |title=India win Nehru Cup for the thrd time |url=http://the-aiff.com/pages/news/index.php?N_Id=3279 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104231557/http://the-aiff.com/pages/news/index.php?N_Id=3279 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 January 2013 |website=the-aiff.com |publisher=AIFF |access-date=11 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Basu |first1=Jaydeep |title=Bhaichung leads dazzling display - Nehru Cup - India demolish Kyrgyzstan 3-0 to make final for first time |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/sports/bhaichung-leads-dazzling-display-nehru-cup-india-demolish-kyrgyzstan-3-0-to-make-final-for-first-time/cid/1071100 |access-date=13 December 2018 |work=Telegraph India |date=27 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214164410/https://www.telegraphindia.com/sport/bhaichung-leads-dazzling-display-nehru-cup-india-demolish-kyrgyzstan-3-0-to-make-final-for-first-time/cid/1071100 |archive-date=14 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=SAFF Cup: India beat Afghanistan 2-1 in final to lift title for seventh time |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/saff-cup-india-beat-afghanistan-2-1-in-final-to-lift-title-for-seventh-time/ |access-date=13 December 2018 |work=Indian Express |date=3 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214164314/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/saff-cup-india-beat-afghanistan-2-1-in-final-to-lift-title-for-seventh-time/ |archive-date=14 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> the crowd showed up in small numbers when the team played as the fans were not organised under any single banner as happens in Europe or South America. Fans of different clubs used to support the team in their respective local venues but were not grouped together to support a single cause, that of the national team, until 2017 when ''"Blue Pilgrims"'' was established as the first organised fan club for the national team.<ref name="bluepilgrims website">{{cite web |title=About Us-Introduction to BluePilgrims |url=https://bluepilgrims.com/ |website=bluepilgrims.com |publisher=Blue Pilgrims |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112194943/https://bluepilgrims.com/ |archive-date=12 January 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="bluepilgrims sportskeeda">{{cite web |title=Indian national football teams to have dedicated fan base named 'Blue Pilgrims |date=3 October 2017|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/indian-national-football-team-to-have-dedicated-fan-base-named-blue-pilgrims |website=www.sportskeeda.com |access-date=2 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="aiff bluepilgrims">{{cite web |title=Blue Tigers find support in Blue Pilgrims |date= 2 October 2017|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=8497 |website=the-aiff.com |publisher=AIFF |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112054142/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=8497 |archive-date=12 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Blue Pilgrims are delighted to announce further collaborations for the game vs Bangladesh in VYBK |date=22 September 2019 |url=https://twitter.com/BluePilgrims/status/1175701333757714432 |work=Blue Pilgrims |publisher=Twitter |access-date=2 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922092734/https://twitter.com/BluePilgrims/status/1175701333757714432 |archive-date=22 September 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+The Blue Pilgrims formed with a motive to support the national team and the [[India national under-17 football team|U-17 team]] during the historic [[2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup|2017 U17 World Cup]],<ref name="AA BP">{{cite web |title=Blue Pilgrims right behind Men in Blues |date=3 June 2018 |url=http://www.asianage.com/sports/football/030618/blue-pilgrims-right-behind-men-in-blues.html |publisher=Asian Age |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112150039/http://www.asianage.com/sports/football/030618/blue-pilgrims-right-behind-men-in-blues.html |archive-date=12 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> India's first ever FIFA competition participation. Started with 300 odd fans,<ref name="12thman">{{cite web |title=Blue Pilgrims, the 12th man of Indian football |date=29 November 2017|url=https://www.redbull.com/in-en/indian-footballs-12th-man-the-blue-pilgrims |website=redbull.com |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112150201/https://www.redbull.com/in-en/indian-footballs-12th-man-the-blue-pilgrims |archive-date=12 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="AA BP"/> now they are in thousands as a unification of fans from different regions with different allegiances came together for just one cause, the Blue Tigers.<ref name="bluepilgrims website"/><ref name="bluepilgrims sportskeeda"/> They call themselves the devotees of the Blue Tigers,<ref name="bluepilgrims sportskeeda"/><ref name="aiff bluepilgrims"/> and their motto is to support India national football teams of all gender and age, wherever they play<ref name="bluepilgrims website"/><ref name="bluepilgrims sportskeeda"/> and for such dedication they are called as the [[12th man (football)|12th man]] of the team.<ref name="12thman"/><ref name="AA BP"/>
+[[File:BlueTiger tifo BluePilgrims 2018.jpg|200px|thumb|right|alt=Blue Pilgrims, 3D tifo|The 3D Blue Tiger [[tifo]] displayed by Blue Pilgrims in June 2018]]
+The Blue Pilgrims's most common chants are: ''"Oh India!"'', ''"In Unity we stand"'', ''"Oh India we stand for you!"'', ''"[[Vande Mataram (album)|Vande Mataram]]"''.<ref name="slogans&chants">{{cite web |title=List of Blue Pilgrims chants (with lyrics) Part 1 |date=25 September 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ0k82ORfs0 |work=Indian football Ultras |publisher=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2 October 2019 |archive-date=3 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703201813/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ0k82ORfs0 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=List of Blue Pilgrims chants (with lyrics) Part 2 |date=25 September 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ0k82ORfs0 |work=Indian football Ultras |publisher=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2 October 2019 |archive-date=3 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703201928/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ0k82ORfs0 |url-status=live }}</ref> Their sports anthems are ''"[[When the Saints Go Marching In (sports anthem)|Oh when the blues go marching in, I wanna be in that number!]]"'' and ''"[[We Shall Overcome#Widespread adaptation|Hum honge kaamyab]]"'' (We shall overcome).<ref name="12thman"/> Since its formation, the Blue Pilgrims use to celebrate after every match with [[Viking Thunder Clap|Viking clap]] with the national team members.<ref name="viking clap and tifo">{{cite web |title=Intercontinental Cup 2018: 5 Things India gained from the Intercontinental Cup |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/intercontinental-cup-2018-5-things-india-gained-from-the-intercontinental-cup |website=sportskeeda.com |date=12 June 2018 |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112044301/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/intercontinental-cup-2018-5-things-india-gained-from-the-intercontinental-cup |archive-date=12 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Watch: Sunil Chhetri leads incredible Viking clap with Indian fans post Thailand AFC Asian Cup win |url=https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1013411/watch-sunil-chhetri-leads-incredible-viking-clap-with-indian-fans-post-thailand-afc-asian-cup-win/ |publisher=Fox Sports Asia |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112044609/https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1013411/watch-sunil-chhetri-leads-incredible-viking-clap-with-indian-fans-post-thailand-afc-asian-cup-win/ |archive-date=12 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Fans of the India national team display the country's tricolour [[Flag of India|National flag]] and also wear blue jerseys in solidarity with the team. They used to display their banner ''Blue Pilgrims'' along with ''"Inquilab-e-Indian football"'' (Revolution of Indian football)<ref name="bluepilgrims website"/><ref name="bluepilgrims sportskeeda"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Inquilab-e-Indian football |url=https://twitter.com/BluePilgrims/status/916981142229680128 |publisher=Blue Pilgrims |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724060707/https://twitter.com/BluePilgrims/status/916981142229680128 |archive-date=24 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> and often shout their common slogan, ''We love you, wherever you go, we follow!"''.<ref name="slogans&chants"/> On 2 June 2018, the then captain [[Sunil Chhetri]] posted a video on social media. In his video he urged the fans to come out at Mumbai to support the team after a poor crowd appearance of only 2569 at a match against [[Chinese Taipei national football team|Chinese Taipei]] in the [[2018 Intercontinental Cup (India)|2018 Intercontinental Cup]]. India achieved a massive victory in that match, winning by 5−0 with Chhetri scoring a hat-trick, but there were very few people present to celebrate.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sunil Chhetri's plea to Indian fans marked as Golden Tweet by Twitter India |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/football/story/sunil-chhetri-plea-indian-fans-golden-tweet-twitter-india-1403543-2018-12-06 |website=indiatoday.in |publisher=India Today |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112095027/https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/football/story/sunil-chhetri-plea-indian-fans-golden-tweet-twitter-india-1403543-2018-12-06 |archive-date=12 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="chhetri tweet ET">{{cite news |title=Chhetri called and the Indian football fans answered |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/chhetri-called-and-the-indian-football-fans-answered/articleshow/64472445.cms |work= The Economic Times|date=6 June 2018 |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112045807/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/chhetri-called-and-the-indian-football-fans-answered/articleshow/64472445.cms |archive-date=12 January 2019 |url-status=live |last1=Premachandran |first1=Dileep }}</ref> Responding to the captain's call, the Blue Pilgrims and football supporters including the fan clubs like [[Manjappada]], West Block Blues and [[East Bengal Ultras]] made sure that the stadiums were full during the next few matches.<ref name="chhetri tweet ET"/><ref>{{cite web|title=After Sunil Chhetri's plea, tickets for India game sold out|date=4 June 2018|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/after-sunil-chhetris-plea-tickets-for-india-game-sold-out/article24079933.ece|work=The Hindu|access-date=11 January 2019|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703201610/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/after-sunil-chhetris-plea-tickets-for-india-game-sold-out/article24079933.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> In the final of that tournament, the Blue Pilgrims displayed a {{cvt|30|ft|adj=on}} tall 3D [[tifo]] of a Blue Tiger, the first ever in the team's history.<ref name="viking clap and tifo"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Blue Pilgrims plans 3D tifo display for Chhetri and co. |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/blue-pilgrims-plan-something-huge-for-chhetri-and-co/article24127542.ece|work=The Hindu|date=10 June 2018 |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714034810/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/blue-pilgrims-plan-something-huge-for-chhetri-and-co/article24127542.ece |archive-date=14 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=From a handful to plenty |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/120618/from-a-handful-to-plenty.html |publisher=Deccan Chronicles |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112044956/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/120618/from-a-handful-to-plenty.html |archive-date=12 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+=== Media coverage ===
+{{See|Football broadcast in India}}
+India's competitive international games are covered on television by [[Star Sports (Indian TV network)|Star Sports]] and on its [[Over-the-top media service|OTT service]], [[Hotstar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/indias-international-footballing-fixtures-to-be-broadcast-live-on-star-sports|title=India's international footballing fixtures to be broadcast live on Star Sports|publisher=AIFF|date=23 May 2017|access-date=11 June 2021|archive-date=11 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611082436/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/indias-international-footballing-fixtures-to-be-broadcast-live-on-star-sports|url-status=live}}</ref> Prior to this deal, the [[All India Football Federation|AIFF]] had struck a ten-year deal with [[Sony Ten|Zee Sports]] in 2006 to broadcast Indian national team's games on its channel with the initiative of '' 'Goal 2010' ''. The aim of this whole exercise was to help India qualify for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bizasialive.com/zee-sports-readies-india-football-team-for-2010/|title=ZEE Sports readies Indian football team for 2010|publisher=Biz Asia Live|date=30 June 2006|access-date=11 June 2021|archive-date=11 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611084737/https://www.bizasialive.com/zee-sports-readies-india-football-team-for-2010/|url-status=live}}</ref>
+== Results and fixtures ==
+{{main|India national football team results|India national football team results (2020–present)}}
+The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
+{{legend2|#CCFFCC|Win|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
+{{legend2|#FFFFCC|Draw|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
+{{legend2|#FFCCCC|Loss|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
+{{legend2|#FFFFFF|Fixture|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
+=== 2023 ===
+{{football box collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|round      = [[2023 Tri-Nation Series (India)|2023 Tri-Nation Series]]
+|date       = {{Start date|2023|3|22|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ|18:00|5:30}}
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|IND}}
+|score      = 1–0
+|team2      = {{fb|MYA}}
+|report     = https://www.the-aiff.com/article/anirudh-thapa-strikes-as-india-edge-past-myanmar-in-hero-tri-nation-opener-in-imphal
+|goals1     =
+*[[Anirudh Thapa|Thapa]] {{goal|45+1}}
+|goals2     =
+|location   = [[Imphal]], India
+|stadium    = [[Khuman Lampak Main Stadium]]
+|attendance = 29,431
+|referee    = Md Alamgir Sarker ([[Bangladesh Football Federation|Bangladesh]])
+|result     = W
+}}
+{{football box collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|round      = [[2023 Tri-Nation Series (India)|2023 Tri-Nation Series]]
+|date       = {{Start date|2023|3|28|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ|18:00|5:30}}
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|IND}}
+|score      = 2–0
+|team2      = {{fb|KGZ}}
+|report     = https://www.the-aiff.com/article/india-too-good-for-kyrgyz-republic-win-hero-tri-nation-tournament-in-imphal
+|goals1     =
+*[[Sandesh Jhingan|Jhingan]] {{goal|34}}
+*[[Sunil Chhetri|Chhetri]] {{goal|84|pen.}}
+|goals2     =
+|location   = [[Imphal]], India
+|stadium    = [[Khuman Lampak Main Stadium]]
+|attendance = 29,877
+|referee    = Md Alamgir Sarker ([[Bangladesh Football Federation|Bangladesh]])
+|result     = W
+}}
+{{football box collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|round      = [[2023 Intercontinental Cup (India)|2023 Intercontinental Cup]]
+|date       = {{Start date|2023|6|9|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ|19:30|5:30}}
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|IND}}
+|score      = 2–0
+|team2      = {{fb|MNG}}
+|report     = [https://www.the-aiff.com/article/quick-fire-india-sink-mongolia-to-kick-off-hero-intercontinental-cup Report]
+|goals1     =
+*[[Sahal Abdul Samad|Samad]] {{goal|2}}
+*[[Lallianzuala Chhangte|Chhangte]] {{goal|14}}
+|goals2     =
+|stadium    = [[Kalinga Stadium]]
+|location   = [[Bhubaneswar]], India
+|attendance =
+|referee    = Songkran Bunmeekiart ([[Football Association of Thailand|Thailand]])
+|result     = W
+}}
+{{football box collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|round      = [[2023 Intercontinental Cup (India)|2023 Intercontinental Cup]]
+|date       = {{Start date|2023|6|12|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ|19:30|5:30}}
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|VAN}}
+|score      = 0–1
+|team2      = {{fb|IND}}
+|report     = [https://www.the-aiff.com/article/chhetris-late-winner-against-vanuatu-books-indias-hero-intercontinental-cup-final-berth Report]
+|goals1     =
+|goals2     = [[Sunil Chhetri|Chhetri]] {{goal|81}}
+|stadium    = [[Kalinga Stadium]]
+|location   = [[Bhubaneswar]], India
+|attendance =
+|referee    = Virendha Rai ([[Bhutan Football Federation|Bhutan]])
+|result     = W
+}}
+{{football box collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|round      = [[2023 Intercontinental Cup (India)|2023 Intercontinental Cup]]
+|date       = {{Start date|2023|6|15|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ|19:30|5:30}}
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|IND}}
+|score      = 0–0
+|team2      = {{fb|LBN}}
+|report     = https://www.the-aiff.com/article/india-lebanon-play-goalless-set-to-cross-swords-again-in-sundays-final
+|goals1     =
+|goals2     =
+|stadium    = [[Kalinga Stadium]]
+|location   = [[Bhubaneswar]], India
+|attendance =
+|referee    = Javiz Mohamed ([[Football Association of Maldives|Maldives]])
+|result     = D
+}}
+{{football box collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|round      = [[2023 Intercontinental Cup (India)#Final|2023 Intercontinental Cup Final]]
+|date       = {{Start date|2023|6|18|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ|19:30|5:30}}
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|IND}}
+|score      = 2–0
+|team2      = {{fb|LBN}}
+|report     = https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2023-06-18/india-vs-lebanon/3009488/
+|goals1     =
+*[[Sunil Chhetri|Chhetri]] {{goal|46}}
+*[[Lallianzuala Chhangte|Chhangte]] {{goal|65}}
+|goals2     =
+|stadium    = [[Kalinga Stadium]]
+|location   = [[Bhubaneswar]], India
+|attendance = 12,600
+|referee    = Virendha Rai ([[Bhutan Football Federation|Bhutan]])
+|result     = W
+}}
+{{football box collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|round      = [[2023 SAFF Championship#Group stage|2023 SAFF Championship GS]]
+|date       = {{Start date|2023|6|21|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ|19:30|5:30}}
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|IND}}
+|score      = 4–0
+|team2      = {{fb|PAK}}
+|report     = [https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/21/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/india/pakistan/4074315/ Report]
+|goals1     =
+*[[Sunil Chhetri|Chhetri]] {{goal|10||16|pen.|74|pen.}}
+*[[Udanta Singh Kumam|Kumam]] {{goal|81}}
+|goals2     =
+|stadium    = [[Sree Kanteerava Stadium]]
+|location   = [[Bangalore]], India
+|attendance = 22,860
+|referee    = Prajwol Chhetri ([[Nepal]])
+|result     = W
+}}
+{{football box collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|round      = [[2023 SAFF Championship#Group stage|2023 SAFF Championship GS]]
+|date       = {{Start date|2023|6|24|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ|19:30|5:30}}
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|NEP}}
+|score      = 0–2
+|team2      = {{fb|IND}}
+|report     = [https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/24/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/nepal/india/4074317/ Report]
+|goals1     =
+|goals2     =
+*[[Sunil Chhetri|Chhetri]] {{goal|61}}
+*[[Naorem Mahesh Singh|Naorem]] {{goal|70}}
+|stadium    = [[Sree Kanteerava Stadium]]
+|location   = [[Bangalore]], India
+|attendance = 12,642
+|referee    = Sinan Hussain ([[Football Association of Maldives|Maldives]])
+|result     = W
+}}
+{{football box collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|round      = [[2023 SAFF Championship#Group stage|2023 SAFF Championship GS]]
+|date       = {{Start date|2023|6|27|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ|19:30|5:30}}
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|IND}}
+|score      = 1–1
+|team2      = {{fb|KUW}}
+|report     = [https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/27/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/india/kuwait/4074319/ Report]
+|goals1     = [[Sunil Chhetri|Chhetri]] {{goal|45+2}}
+|goals2     = [[Anwar Ali (footballer, born 2000)|A. Ali]] {{goal|90+2|o.g.}}
+|stadium    = [[Sree Kanteerava Stadium]]
+|location   = [[Bangalore]], India
+|attendance = 9,562
+|referee    = Md Alamgir Sarker ([[Bangladesh Football Federation|Bangladesh]])
+|result     = D
+}}
+{{football box collapsible
+|format       = 1
+|round        = [[2023 SAFF Championship#Semi-finals|2023 SAFF Championship SF]]
+|date         = {{Start date|2023|7|1|df=y}}
+|time         = {{UTZ|19:30|5:30}}
+|team1        = {{fb-rt|LBN}}
+|score        = 0–0
+|aet          = yes
+|team2        = {{fb|IND}}
+|report       = [https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/07/01/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/lebanon/india/4074338/ Report]
+|goals1       =
+|goals2       =
+|penaltyscore = {{font color||#CFC|2–4}}
+|penalties1   =
+*[[Hassan Maatouk|Maatouk]] {{penmiss}}
+*[[Walid Shour|Shour]] {{pengoal}}
+*[[Mohamad Omar Sadek|Sadek]] {{pengoal}}
+*[[Khalil Bader|Bader]] {{penmiss}}
+|penalties2   =
+*{{pengoal}} [[Sunil Chhetri|Chhetri]]
+*{{pengoal}} [[Anwar Ali (footballer, born 2000)|A. Ali]]
+*{{pengoal}} [[Naorem Mahesh Singh|Naorem]]
+*{{pengoal}} [[Udanta Singh Kumam|Kumam]]
+|stadium      = [[Sree Kanteerava Stadium]]
+|location     = [[Bangalore]], India
+|attendance   = 19,640
+|referee      = Sinan Hussain ([[Football Association of Maldives|Maldives]])
+|result       = D
+}}
+{{football box collapsible
+|format       = 1
+|round        = [[2023 SAFF Championship#Final|2023 SAFF Championship Final]]
+|date         = {{Start date|2023|7|4|df=y}}
+|time         = {{UTZ|19:30|5:30}}
+|team1        = {{fb-rt|KUW}}
+|score        = 1–1
+|aet          = yes
+|team2        = {{fb|IND}}
+|report       = [https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/07/04/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/kuwait/india/4074339/ Report]
+|goals1       = [[Shabaib Al-Khaldi|Al-Khaldi]] {{goal|14}}
+|goals2       = [[Lallianzuala Chhangte|Chhangte]] {{goal|36}}
+|penaltyscore = {{font color||#CFC|4–5}}
+|penalties1   =
+*Daham {{penmiss}}
+*Al Otaibi {{pengoal}}
+*[[Ahmed Al-Dhefiri|Al-Dhefiri]] {{pengoal}}
+*Naji {{pengoal}}
+*[[Shabaib Al-Khaldi|Al-Khaldi]] {{pengoal}}
+*[[Khalid Hajeyah|Hajeyah]] {{penmiss}}
+|penalties2   =
+*{{pengoal}} [[Sunil Chhetri|Chhetri]]
+*{{pengoal}} [[Sandesh Jhingan|Jhingan]]
+*{{pengoal}} [[Lallianzuala Chhangte|Chhangte]]
+*{{penmiss}} [[Udanta Singh Kumam|Kumam]]
+*{{pengoal}} [[Subhasish Bose|Bose]]
+*{{pengoal}} [[Naorem Mahesh Singh|Naorem]]
+|stadium      = [[Sree Kanteerava Stadium]]
+|location     = [[Bangalore]], India
+|attendance   = 26,380
+|referee      = Prajwol Chhetri ([[Nepal]])
+|result       = D
+}}
+{{football box collapsible
+|format        = 1
+|round         = [[2023 King's Cup#Semi-finals|2023 King's Cup SF]]
+|date          = {{Start date|2023|9|7|df=y}}
+|time          = {{UTZ|16:00|5:30}}
+|team1         = {{fb-rt|IRQ}}
+|score         = 2–2
+|team2         = {{fb|IND}}
+|report        = [https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/09/07/world/kings-cup/iraq/india/4220823/#:~:text=Iraq%20vs.%20India%202%20%2D%202 Report]
+|goals1        =
+*[[Ali Al-Hamadi|Al-Hamadi]] {{goal|28|pen.}}
+*[[Aymen Hussein|Hussein]] {{goal|80|pen.}}
+|goals2        =
+*[[Naorem Mahesh Singh|Naorem]] {{goal|16}}
+*[[Jalal Hassan|Hassan]] {{goal|51|o.g.}}
+|penaltyscore  = {{font color||#FCC|5–4}}
+|penalties1    =
+*[[Merchas Doski|Doski]] {{pengoal}}
+*[[Ali Adnan Kadhim|Adnan]] {{pengoal}}
+*[[Hussein Ali Al-Saedi|Ali]] {{pengoal}}
+*[[Amin Al-Hamawi|Al-Hamawi]] {{pengoal}}
+*[[Bashar Resan|Resan]] {{pengoal}}
+ |penalties2   =
+*{{penmiss}} [[Brandon Fernandes|Fernandes]]
+*{{pengoal}} [[Sandesh Jhingan|Jhingan]]
+*{{pengoal}} [[Suresh Singh Wangjam|Wangjam]]
+*{{pengoal}} [[Anwar Ali (footballer, born 2000)|A. Ali]]
+*{{pengoal}} [[Rahim Ali|R. Ali]]
+|stadium       = [[700th Anniversary Stadium]]
+|location      = [[Chiang Mai]], Thailand
+|attendance    = 2,884
+|referee       = Wiwat Jumpaoon ([[Football Association of Thailand|Thailand]])
+|result        = D
+}}
+{{football box collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|round      = [[2023 King's Cup#Third place play-off|2023 King's Cup 3rd]]
+|date       = {{Start date|2023|9|10|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ|16:00|5:30}}
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|LBN}}
+|score      = 1–0
+|team2      = {{fb|IND}}
+|report     = [https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/09/10/world/kings-cup/lebanon/india/4220828/ Report]
+|goals1     = [[Kassem El Zein|Kassem]] {{goal|77}}
+|goals2     =
+|stadium    = [[700th Anniversary Stadium]]
+|location   = [[Chiang Mai]], Thailand
+|attendance = 13,567
+|referee    = Torpong Somsingha ([[Football Association of Thailand|Thailand]])
+|result     = L
+}}
+{{football box collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|round      = [[2023 Merdeka Tournament#Semi-finals|2023 Merdeka Tournament SF]]
+|date       = {{Start date|2023|10|13|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ|18:30|5:30}}
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|MAS}}
+| score     = 4–2
+| team2     = {{fb|IND}}
+| report    = https://web.archive.org/web/20231013150514/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/india-malaysia-live-score-merdeka-cup-updates-telecast-highlights-preview-lineups-predictions/article67416586.ece
+| goals1    =
+*[[Dion Cools|Cools]] {{goal|7}}
+*[[Arif Aiman Hanapi|Arif]] {{goal|20|pen.}}
+*[[Faisal Halim|Faisal]] {{goal|42}}
+*[[La'Vere Corbin-Ong|Corbin-Ong]] {{goal|61}}
+| goals2    =
+*[[Naorem Mahesh Singh|N. M. Singh]] {{goal|13}}
+*[[Sunil Chhetri|Chhetri]] {{goal|51}}
+|stadium    = [[Bukit Jalil National Stadium]]
+|location   = [[Kuala Lumpur]], Malaysia
+|attendance =
+|referee    = Mongkolchai Pechsri ([[Football Association of Thailand|Thailand]])
+|result     = L
+}}
+{{footballbox collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|round      = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#Group_A|2026 WCQ]] / [[2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group_A|2027 ACQ]]
+|date       = {{Start date|2023|11|16|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ||5:30}}
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|KUW}}
+|score      =
+|team2      = {{fb|IND}}
+|report     =
+|goals1     =
+|goals2     =
+|stadium    = [[Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium]]
+|location   = [[Kuwait City]], Kuwait
+|attendance =
+|referee    =
+|result     =
+}}
+{{footballbox collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|round      = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#Group_A|2026 WCQ]] / [[2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group_A|2027 ACQ]]
+|date       = {{Start date|2023|11|21|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ||5:30}}
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|IND}}
+|score      =
+|team2      = {{fb|QAT}}
+|report     =
+|goals1     =
+|goals2     =
+|stadium    = [[Kalinga Stadium]]
+|location   = [[Bhubaneswar]], India
+|attendance =
+|referee    =
+|result     =
+}}
+=== 2024 ===
+{{Football box collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|date       = {{Start date|2024|1|13|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ|17:00|5:30}}
+|round      = [[2023 AFC Asian Cup#Group_B|2023 AFC Asian Cup GS]]
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|AUS}}
+|score      =
+|team2      = {{fb|IND}}
+|report     =
+|goals1     =
+|goals2     =
+|attendance =
+|stadium    = [[Ahmad bin Ali Stadium]]
+|location   = [[Al Rayyan (city)|Al Rayyan]], Qatar
+|referee    =
+|result     =
+}}
+{{Football box collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|date       = {{Start date|2024|1|18|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ|20:00|5:30}}
+|round      = [[2023 AFC Asian Cup#Group_B|2023 AFC Asian Cup GS]]
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|IND}}
+|score      =
+|team2      = {{fb|UZB}}
+|report     =
+|goals1     =
+|goals2     =
+|attendance =
+|stadium    = [[Ahmad bin Ali Stadium]]
+|location   = [[Al Rayyan (city)|Al Rayyan]], Qatar
+|referee    =
+|result     =
+}}
+{{Football box collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|date       = {{Start date|2024|1|23|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ|17:00|5:30}}
+|round      = [[2023 AFC Asian Cup#Group_B|2023 AFC Asian Cup GS]]
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|SYR}}
+|score      =
+|team2      = {{fb|IND}}
+|report     =
+|goals1     =
+|goals2     =
+|attendance =
+|stadium    = [[Al Bayt Stadium]]
+|location   = [[Al Khor]], Qatar
+|referee    =
+|result     =
+}}
+{{footballbox collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|round      = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#Group_A|2026 WCQ]] / [[2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group_A|2027 ACQ]]
+|date       = {{Start date|2024|3|21|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ||5:30}}
+|team1      = Winner of [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#First round|R1 Pairing 1]] {{flagicon image|Flag of None.svg}}
+|score      =
+|team2      = {{fb|IND}}
+|report     =
+|goals1     =
+|goals2     =
+|stadium    = TBA
+|location   = TBA
+|attendance =
+|referee    =
+|result     =
+}}
+{{footballbox collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|round      = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#Group_A|2026 WCQ]] / [[2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group_A|2027 ACQ]]
+|date       = {{Start date|2024|3|26|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ||5:30}}
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|IND}}
+|score      =
+|team2      = {{flagicon image|Flag of None.svg}} Winner of [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#First round|R1 Pairing 1]]
+|report     =
+|goals1     =
+|goals2     =
+|stadium    = [[Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium|IGA Stadium]]
+|location   = [[Guwahati]], India
+|attendance =
+|referee    =
+|result     =
+}}
+{{footballbox collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|round      = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#Group_A|2026 WCQ]] / [[2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group_A|2027 ACQ]]
+|date       = {{Start date|2024|6|6|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ||5:30}}
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|IND}}
+|score      =
+|team2      = {{fb|KUW}}
+|report     =
+|goals1     =
+|goals2     =
+|stadium    = TBA
+|location   = India
+|attendance =
+|referee    =
+|result     =
+}}
+{{footballbox collapsible
+|format     = 1
+|round      = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#Group_A|2026 WCQ]] / [[2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group_A|2027 ACQ]]
+|date       = {{Start date|2024|6|11|df=y}}
+|time       = {{UTZ||5:30}}
+|team1      = {{fb-rt|QAT}}
+|score      =
+|team2      = {{fb|IND}}
+|report     =
+|goals1     =
+|goals2     =
+|stadium    = TBA
+|location   = Qatar
+|attendance =
+|referee    =
+|result     =
+}}
+== Coaching staff ==
+[[File:Syed Abdul Rahim, India Football Coach.jpg|150px|right|thumb|alt= Syed Abdul Rahim coached India in the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Olympics.|[[Syed Abdul Rahim]], the most successful Indian coach for the national team]]
+[[File:Iran vs. India - 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, Stephen Constantine.jpg|150px|thumb|[[Stephen Constantine]], one of the most successful foreign coaches for the national team (2019)|alt=Portrait of Stephen Constantine wearing goggles.]]
+{{Main article|List of India national football team managers}}
+=== Coaching history ===
+Since India's independence, there have been twenty-nine different head coaches for the national team, out of which eleven foreign. The most successful head coach for India was [[Syed Abdul Rahim]], who led India to gold in both the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games while also achieving a fourth-place finish during the [[1956 Summer Olympics]]. The most successful foreign head coaches for India were Bob Houghton and Stephen Constantine; both of them helped the team to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup. With Houghton in charge from 2006 to 2011,<ref name="Bobby">{{cite news|last1=Nandi|first1=Dhirtiman|title=Performance of Foreign Coaches in Indian National Football Team|url=http://www.indianfootballnetwork.com/blog/2015/08/23/performance-of-foreign-coaches-in-indian-national-football-team/|accessdate=31 May 2016|work=IndianFootballNetwork|date=23 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623082258/http://www.indianfootballnetwork.com/blog/2015/08/23/performance-of-foreign-coaches-in-indian-national-football-team/|archive-date=23 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> India won the Nehru Cup twice and the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008, which allowed them to participate in their first AFC Asian Cup for 27 years.<ref name="Bobby"/> Since Houghton resigned as head coach in 2011, the Indian national team's [[FIFA World Rankings|FIFA ranking]] touched its lowest at 173 in the team history in March 2015,<ref name="ind rise from 173rank">{{cite web |title=How India rose from a historical low |url=https://scroll.in/article/719390/fifa-rankings-how-india-rose-from-a-historical-low-173-to-147-with-one-win-against-nepal |website=scroll.in |publisher=The Scroll |accessdate=13 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226054412/http://scroll.in/article/719390/fifa-rankings-how-india-rose-from-a-historical-low-173-to-147-with-one-win-against-nepal |archive-date=26 December 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Ind improves ranking">{{cite web |title=FIFA ranking: Indian football team up to 96, achieve best position in 21 years |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/football/india-up-to-96-achieve-best-fifa-ranking-in-21-years/story-kQK8Oj8j7A2BgqNYmY06GL.html |website=hindustantimes.com |publisher=HindustanTimes |accessdate=13 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013211628/https://www.hindustantimes.com/football/india-up-to-96-achieve-best-fifa-ranking-in-21-years/story-kQK8Oj8j7A2BgqNYmY06GL.html |archive-date=13 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> but Constantine, who was appointed for the second time as the head coach of India,<ref name="bbc constantine article">{{cite web |last1=Roach |first1=Stuart |title=Constantine's rising stock |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3283523.stm |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC |accessdate=13 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013172405/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3283523.stm |archive-date=13 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="scroll constantine article">{{cite web |title=Interview with Stephen Constantine |url=https://scroll.in/field/844006/what-you-see-is-what-you-get-interview-with-stephen-constantine |website=scroll.in |publisher=Scroll |accessdate=13 October 2018 |archive-date=3 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703201638/https://scroll.in/field/844006/what-you-see-is-what-you-get-interview-with-stephen-constantine |url-status=live }}</ref> revived the Indian team from its meagre condition. Under him, the team remained unbeaten for two years from June 2016 to March 2018 winning 11 matches and drawn 2 matches,<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian football team maintain unbeaten streak in International football |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/indian-football-team-spends-most-number-of-days-in-unbeaten-streak-overtakes-germany |website=sportskeeda.com |publisher=Sportskeeda |accessdate=13 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626135953/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/indian-football-team-spends-most-number-of-days-in-unbeaten-streak-overtakes-germany |archive-date=26 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Asian Cup Qualifiers: India's 12-match unbeaten streak ends |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/asian-cup-qualifiers-india-s-12-match-unbeaten-streak-ends-118032800250_1.html|work=Business Standard|accessdate=13 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013211605/https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/asian-cup-qualifiers-india-s-12-match-unbeaten-streak-ends-118032800250_1.html |archive-date=13 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> which helped them to qualify for 2019 AFC Asian Cup, 8 years since Houghton left.<ref>{{cite web |title=India lose 1-2 to Kyrgyzstan, 13-match unbeaten run ends |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/india-lose-1-2-to-kyrgyzstan-13-match-unbeaten-run-ends/articleshow/63492985.cms |website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com |publisher=TOI |accessdate=13 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328153858/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/india-lose-1-2-to-kyrgyzstan-13-match-unbeaten-run-ends/articleshow/63492985.cms |archive-date=28 March 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> He also helped the team to reach a better FIFA ranking of 96 in July 2017, which was the best in last 21 years.<ref name="ind rise from 173rank"/><ref name="Ind improves ranking"/>
+=== Present coaching staff ===
+{| class="wikitable"
+! Position !! Name
+|-
+| Head coach || {{flagicon|CRO}} [[Igor Štimac]]<ref name = "Igor Stimac">{{cite web |title=AIFF appoints Igor Stimac as new men's senior national team coach |url=https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9674 |website=the-aiff.com |publisher=AIFF |access-date=15 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518164959/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9674 |archive-date=18 May 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
+|-
+| Assistant coach || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Mahesh Gawli]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/national-team/men/senior|title=About Senior Men Team|access-date=26 September 2022|archive-date=23 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123040727/http://www.the-aiff.com/national-team/men/senior|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+| Goalkeeping coach || {{flagicon|CRO}} Frano Srdarev<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/media/uploads/2022/12/UC-of-salary-of-Foreign-Coaches-for-April-May22-compressed.pdf|title=UC of Salary of Foreign Coaches Apr & May 22 - AIFF|publisher=AIFF|access-date=3 January 2023|archive-date=3 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103065434/https://www.the-aiff.com/media/uploads/2022/12/UC-of-salary-of-Foreign-Coaches-for-April-May22-compressed.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+| Fitness coach || {{flagicon|CRO}} Luka Radman<ref name = "Luka Radman">{{cite web|url=https://khelnow.com/football/indian-football-2019-luka-radman-strength-and-conditioning-coach-national-team|title=Luka Radman is very knowledgeable and has worked with a lot of top players- Sunil Chhetri|publisher=Khelnow|date=3 June 2019|access-date=21 April 2021|archive-date=27 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427213657/https://khelnow.com/football/indian-football-2019-luka-radman-strength-and-conditioning-coach-national-team|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|}
+== Players ==
+{{See also|List of India international footballers}}
+=== Current squad ===
+The following 23 players were named in the squad for the [[2023 Merdeka Tournament]] matches to be held in October 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.<ref>{{cite news|title=Potentially adverse conditions a good opportunity for Blue Tigers, says Sunil Chhetri|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/potentially-adverse-conditions-a-good-opportunity-for-blue-tigers-says-sunil-chhetri|publisher=AIFF|date=11 October 2023|archive-date=12 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012064532/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/potentially-adverse-conditions-a-good-opportunity-for-blue-tigers-says-sunil-chhetri|url-status=live}}</ref>
+''Caps and goals are correct as of 11 September 2023, after the match against {{fb|LBN}}.''
+{{nat fs g start|background=#0B0B3F|color=#ffffff}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=GK|name=[[Gurpreet Singh Sandhu]]|age={{birth date and age|1992|2|3|df=y}}|caps=64|goals=0|club=[[Bengaluru FC|Bengaluru]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=GK|name=[[Amrinder Singh]]|age={{birth date and age|1993|5|27|df=y}}|caps=12|goals=0|club=[[Odisha FC|Odisha]]|clubnat=IND|}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=GK|name=[[Vishal Kaith]]|age={{birth date and age|1996|7|22|df=y}}|caps=4|goals=0|club=[[Mohun Bagan AC|Mohun Bagan SG]]|clubnat=IND|}}
+{{nat fs break|background=#800000|color=white}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Nikhil Poojari|Nikhil Poojary]]|age={{birth date and age|1995|9|3|df=y}}|caps=18|goals=1|club=[[Hyderabad FC|Hyderabad]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Naorem Roshan Singh]]|age={{birth date and age|1999|2|2|df=y}}|caps=9|goals=0|club=[[Bengaluru FC|Bengaluru]]|clubnat=IND|}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Sandesh Jhingan]]|age={{birth date and age|1993|7|21|df=y}}|caps=57|goals=5|club=[[FC Goa|Goa]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Anwar Ali (footballer, born 2000)|Anwar Ali]]|age={{birth date and age|2000|8|28|df=y}}|caps=18|goals=1|club=[[Mohun Bagan AC|Mohun Bagan SG]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Mehtab Singh (footballer)|Mehtab Singh]]|age={{birth date and age|1998|5|5|df=y}}|caps=7|goals=0|club=[[Mumbai City FC|Mumbai City]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Lalchungnunga]]|age={{birth date and age|2000|12|25|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Akash Mishra]]|age={{birth date and age|2001|11|27|df=y}}|caps=22|goals=0|club=[[Mumbai City FC|Mumbai City]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Subhasish Bose]]|age={{birth date and age|1995|8|18|df=y}}|caps=34|goals=0|club=[[Mohun Bagan SG]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs break|background=#800000|color=white}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Suresh Singh Wangjam]]|age={{birth date and age|2000|8|7|df=y}}|caps=19|goals=1|club=[[Bengaluru FC|Bengaluru]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Anirudh Thapa]]|age={{birth date and age|1998|1|15|df=y}}|caps=51|goals=4|club=[[Mohun Bagan AC|Mohun Bagan SG]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Rohit Kumar (footballer)|Rohit Kumar]]|age={{birth date and age|1997|4|1|df=y}}|caps=11|goals=0|club=[[Bengaluru FC|Bengaluru]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Sahal Abdul Samad]]|age={{birth date and age|1997|4|1|df=y}}|caps=32|goals=3|club=[[Mohun Bagan AC|Mohun Bagan SG]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Brandon Fernandes]]|age={{birth date and age|1994|9|20|df=y}}|caps=22|goals=0|club=[[FC Goa|Goa]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Lallianzuala Chhangte]]|age={{birth date and age|1997|6|8|df=y}}|caps=29|goals=7|club=[[Mumbai City FC|Mumbai City]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Udanta Singh Kumam|Udanta Singh]]|age={{birth date and age|1996|6|14|df=y}}|caps=46|goals=2|club=[[FC Goa|Goa]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Naorem Mahesh Singh]]|age={{birth date and age|1999|3|1|df=y}}|caps=13|goals=2|club=[[East Bengal Club|East Bengal]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Liston Colaco]]|age={{birth date and age|1998|11|12|df=y}}|caps=16|goals=0|club=[[Mohun Bagan SG]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Nandhakumar Sekar]]|age={{birth date and age|1995|12|20|df=y}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=[[East Bengal Club|East Bengal]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs break|background=#800000|color=white}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Sunil Chhetri]]|age={{birth date and age|1984|8|3|df=y}}|caps=142|goals=92|club=[[Bengaluru FC|Bengaluru]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Manvir Singh (footballer, born 1995)|Manvir Singh]]|age={{birth date and age|1995|11|7|df=y}}|caps=36|goals=6|club=[[Mohun Bagan AC|Mohun Bagan SG]]|clubnat=IND}}
+{{nat fs end}}
+===Recent callups===
+The following footballers were part of a national selection in the past twelve months, but are not part of the current squad.
+{{nat fs r start|background=#FBEC5D|color=#008000}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=GK|name=[[Prabhsukhan Singh Gill]]|age={{birth date and age|2001|1|2|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]|clubnat=IND|latest=NT camp, March 2023}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=GK|name=[[Phurba Lachenpa]]|age={{birth date and age|1998|2|4|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Mumbai City FC|Mumbai City]]|clubnat=IND|latest=NT camp, May 2023 <sup>INJ</sup>}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=13|pos=GK|name=[[Gurmeet Singh (footballer)|Gurmeet Singh]]|age={{birth date and age|1999|12|3|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Hyderabad FC|Hyderabad]]|clubnat=IND|latest=[[2023 King's Cup]], September 2023}}
+{{nat fs break|background=#FBEC5D}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Asish Rai]]|age={{birth date and age|1999|01|27|df=y}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=[[Mohun Bagan AC|Mohun Bagan SG]]|clubnat=IND|latest=[[2023 King's Cup]], September 2023}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=3|pos=DF|name=[[Narender Gahlot]]|age={{birth date and age|2001|4|24|df=y}}|caps=4|goals=1|club=[[Odisha FC|Odisha]]|clubnat=IND|latest=NT camp, March 2023}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=4|pos=DF|name=[[Chinglensana Singh (footballer)|Chinglensana Singh]]|age={{birth date and age|1996|11|27|df=y}}|caps=11|goals=0|club=[[Hyderabad FC|Hyderabad]]|clubnat=IND|latest=[[2023 Tri-Nation Series (India)|2023 Tri-Nation series]] <sup>OTH</sup>}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=2|pos=DF|name=[[Rahul Bheke]]|age={{birth date and age|1990|12|06|df=y}}|caps=22|goals=1|club=[[Mumbai City FC|Mumbai City]]|clubnat=IND|latest=[[2023 SAFF Championship]]}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=20|pos=DF|name=[[Pritam Kotal]]|age={{birth date and age|1993|9|8|df=y}}|caps=52|goals=0|club=[[Kerala Blasters FC|Kerala Blasters]]|clubnat=IND|latest=[[2023 SAFF Championship]]}}
+{{nat fs break|background=#FBEC5D}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=8|pos=MF|name=[[Lalengmawia Ralte]]|other=|age={{birth date and age|2000|10|17|df=y}}|caps=11|goals=0|club=[[Mumbai City FC|Mumbai City]]|clubnat=IND|latest=[[2023 Intercontinental Cup (India)|2023 Intercontinental Cup]] <sup>OTH</sup>}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=14|pos=MF|name=[[Rowllin Borges]]|age={{birth date and age|1992|6|5|df=y}}|caps=35|goals=2|club=[[FC Goa|Goa]]|clubnat=IND|latest=[[2023 Intercontinental Cup (India)|2023 Intercontinental Cup]]}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Deepak Tangri]]|age={{birth date and age|1999|2|1|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Mohun Bagan AC|Mohun Bagan SG]]|clubnat=IND|latest=NT camp, September 2022 <sup>INJ</sup>}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Glan Martins]]|age={{birth date and age|1994|7|1|df=y}}|caps=13|goals=0|club=[[Mohun Bagan AC|Mohun Bagan SG]]|clubnat=IND|latest=NT camp, March 2023 <sup>INJ</sup>}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=16|pos=MF|name=[[Mohammad Yasir]]|age={{birth date and age|1998|04|14|df=y}}|caps=13|goals=0|club=[[Hyderabad FC|Hyderabad]]|clubnat=IND|latest=[[2023 Tri-Nation Series (India)|2023 Tri-Nation series]] <sup>INJ</sup>}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=18|pos=MF|name=[[Ritwik Das]]|age={{birth date and age|1996|12|14|df=y}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=[[Jamshedpur FC|Jamshedpur]]|clubnat=IND|latest=[[2023 Tri-Nation Series (India)|2023 Tri-Nation series]]}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=28|pos=MF|name=[[Bipin Singh Thounaojam|Bipin Singh]]|age={{birth date and age|1995|3|10|df=y}}|caps=7|goals=0|club=[[Mumbai City FC|Mumbai City]]|clubnat=IND|latest=[[2023 Tri-Nation Series (India)|2023 Tri-Nation series]]}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Jeakson Singh]]|age={{birth date and age|2001|6|21|df=y}}|caps=19|goals=0|club=[[Kerala Blasters FC|Kerala Blasters]]|clubnat=IND|latest=[[2023 King's Cup]], September 2023}}
+{{nat fs break|background=#FBEC5D}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Rahul K. P.|Rahul KP]]|age={{birth date and age|2000|2|16|df=y}}|caps=4|goals=0|club=[[Kerala Blasters FC|Kerala Blasters]]|clubnat=IND|latest=[[2023 King's Cup]], September 2023}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Ashique Kuruniyan]]|age={{birth date and age|1997|6|18|df=y}}|caps=34|goals=2|club=[[Mohun Bagan AC|Mohun Bagan SG]]|clubnat=IND|latest=[[2023 King's Cup]], September 2023}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Rahim Ali]]|age={{birth date and age|2000|4|21|df=y}}|caps=13|goals=0|club=[[Chennaiyin FC|Chennaiyin]]|clubnat=IND|latest=[[2023 King's Cup]], September 2023}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Sivasakthi Narayanan]]|age={{birth date and age|2001|7|9|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Bengaluru FC|Bengaluru]]|clubnat=IND|latest=NT camp, May 2023}}
+{{nat fs r player|no=18|pos=FW|name=[[Ishan Pandita]]|age={{birth date and age|1998|5|26|df=y}}|caps=6|goals=1|club=[[Jamshedpur FC|Jamshedpur]]|clubnat=IND|latest=[[2023 Intercontinental Cup (India)|2023 Intercontinental Cup]] <sup>INJ</sup>}}
+{{nat fs break|background=#FBEC5D}}
+*<sup>PRE</sup> Preliminary squad / standby
+*<sup>RET</sup> Retired from the national team
+*<sup>INJ</sup> Player injuries
+*<sup>OTH</sup> Player withdrew from squad due to non-injury issue
+{{nat fs end|background=#FBEC5D}}
+===Notable players===
+{{See also|History of the India national football team#Notable players|l1=Notable players|India national football team records and statistics#Player records|l2=Player records}}
+[[File:Gostha Pal 1998 stamp of India.jpg|115px|left|thumb|alt=Stamp depicting Gostha Pal playing football.|Postage stamp issued in 1998, to honour [[Gostha Pal]]]]
+During the early 20th century, India produced one of the best footballers from Asia at that time, [[Gostha Pal]]. Pal began playing professional football at the age of 16 in 1911, becoming India's first captain, and was considered one of the best defenders India had ever produced. He was also the first footballer to be awarded [[Padma Shree]] in the year 1962,<ref name="award winning footballers">{{cite web |title=Award winning Indian footballer|url=http://www.indianfootball.de/data/nationalawards.html |website=indianfootball.de|publisher=IndianFootball|access-date=13 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001123849/http://www.indianfootball.de/data/nationalawards.html |archive-date=1 October 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> and in 1998, the Government of India introduced a postal stamp in his honour.<ref name="kolkatafootball.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.kolkatafootball.com/kolkatafootball_indian_legend_footballers_profile.html|title=Gostha Pal-The Great wall of China - Great icon of Kolkata football|access-date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823005519/http://www.kolkatafootball.com/kolkatafootball_indian_legend_footballers_profile.html|archive-date=23 August 2018}}</ref> In the later 1930s, players like [[R. Lumsden (footballer)|R. Lumsden]], Noor Mohammed, T. Rahim, K. Prosad, A. Nandi under the leadership of [[Karuna Bhattacharya]] played for India who scored a total of 56 goals in 17 matches during the 1938 Australia tour out of which 5 matches were against Australia, where Lumsden scored the first international hat-trick for India.<ref name="aus tour 1938">{{cite web |title=1938 Indian Tour of Australia |url=http://www.ozfootball.net/museum/index.php/tours/252-1938-indian-tour-of-australia |website=ozfootball.net |publisher=Australian Online Football Museum |access-date=24 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923052751/http://www.ozfootball.net/museum/index.php/tours/252-1938-indian-tour-of-australia |archive-date=23 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="1938 aus tour result">{{cite web |last1=Greg Stock |first1=Thomas Esamie,John Punshon |title=Socceroo Internationals for 1938 |url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Socceroo/1938A.html |website=ozfootball.net |publisher=OZfootball |access-date=24 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806202225/http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Socceroo/1938A.html |archive-date=6 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
+[[File:Talimeren Ao 2018 stamp of India.jpg|115px|right|thumb|alt=Stamp depicting a potrait of Talimeren Ao wearing jacket.|Postage stamp issued in 2018, to honour [[Talimeren Ao]]]]
+India's first captain after the country gained independence was Dr. [[Talimeren Ao]]. At a very young age, using footballs made out of rags, Ao gradually improved his skills as a defensive midfielder. He was given the responsibility of leading the team at the [[Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics|1948 Olympics]], India's first major tournament<ref>{{cite web |title=Talimenren Ao achievements |url=https://www.kolkatafootball.com/kolkatafootball_indian_legend_footballers_profile.html#tao |website=kolkatafootball.com |publisher=Kolkata Football |access-date=2 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026115539/http://www.kolkatafootball.com/kolkatafootball_indian_legend_footballers_profile.html#tao |archive-date=26 October 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="T.Ao scroll.com">{{cite web |title=Remembering a Naga doctor-footballer who led India in the 1948 Olympics |url=https://scroll.in/article/698650/remembering-a-naga-doctor-footballer-who-led-india-in-the-1948-olympics |website=scroll.in |publisher=The Scroll |access-date=2 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126012736/https://scroll.in/article/698650/remembering-a-naga-doctor-footballer-who-led-india-in-the-1948-olympics |archive-date=26 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> and also was the flag bearer of Indian contingents in London.<ref name="the naga republic story">{{cite web |title=Story of a legend – Dr. T. Ao the first Naga Olympian and football genius |url=http://www.thenagarepublic.com/features/story-legend-dr-t-ao-first-naga-olympian-football-genius/ |website=thenagarepublic.com |date=27 January 2018 |publisher=The Naga Republic |access-date=2 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126005616/http://www.thenagarepublic.com/features/story-legend-dr-t-ao-first-naga-olympian-football-genius/ |archive-date=26 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Also during this era, India produced [[Sailen Manna]], one of the country's best defenders.<ref name="AIFF Sailen Manna">{{cite web |title=AIFF Condoles Sailen Manna's death |url=https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=4143 |website=www.the-aiff.com |publisher=AIFF |access-date=6 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126010705/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=4143 |archive-date=26 November 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was given the India captaincy in 1951 during the [[Football at the 1951 Asian Games|Asian Games]], led the team to the gold medal, India's first major international honour,<ref name="AIFF Sailen Manna"/> and also captained the team during the [[Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics|1952 Olympics]] and [[Football at the 1954 Asian Games|1954 Asian Games]].<ref name="AIFF Sailen Manna"/> In 1953, [[England Football Association]] rated Manna among "10 Best Skippers of the World" in its yearbook,<ref>{{cite web|title=A natural leader|url=https://www.sportstarlive.com/tss3511/stories/20120315504703100.htm|work=Sports Star|access-date=6 November 2018|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703201628/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/magazine/a-natural-leader/article29710043.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> the Government of India awarded him [[Padma Shri]] in 1971<ref name="award winning footballers"/> and [[All India Football Federation|AIFF]] honoured him as "AIFF Player-of-the-Millennium" in 2000.<ref name="AIFF Sailen Manna"/>
+During India's golden era between the 1950s and early 60s, the country produced coveted strikers such as [[Sheoo Mewalal]], [[Neville D'Souza]], [[Chuni Goswami]], [[Inder Singh (footballer) |Inder Singh]] and [[Tulsidas Balaram]]. Mewalal was India's starting striker during the [[Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics|1948 Olympics]], [[Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics|1952 Olympics]] and [[Football at the 1951 Asian Games|1951 Asian games]] where he ended as the tournament top goalscorer with four goals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Remembering India's most prolific centre forward - Sahoo Mewalal |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/remembering-indias-most-prolific-centre-forward-sahoo-mewalal |website=sportskeeda.com |date=30 October 2012 |publisher=SportsKeeda |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126005650/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/remembering-indias-most-prolific-centre-forward-sahoo-mewalal |archive-date=26 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Legend of Indian football:Sheoo Mewalal |url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2012/legends-of-indian-football-sheoo-mewalal/ |website=thehardtackle.com |date=27 December 2012 |publisher=The Hard Tackle |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028130451/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2012/legends-of-indian-football-sheoo-mewalal/ |archive-date=28 October 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Mewalal was the first Indian player to score a hat-trick since the country gained independence when he scored it against [[Myanmar national football team|Burma]] during the [[Colombo Cup|1952 Colombo Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |title=India Senior team 1952 Quadrangular Cup |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1952quadrangularcup.html |website=indianfootball.de |publisher=Indian Football |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055657/http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1952quadrangularcup.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> D'Souza meanwhile became the first Asian player to score a hat-trick at the Olympic Games,<ref>{{cite web |title=India Football Hall of Fame, Neville D'Souza |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/data/halloffame/dsouza_neville.html |website=indianfootball.de |publisher=Indian Football |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119131704/http://www.indianfootball.de/data/halloffame/dsouza_neville.html |archive-date=19 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> scoring a hat-trick against [[Australia national soccer team|Australia]] during the [[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Match Report Australia - India |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/melbourne1956/matches/round=197070/match=32404/index.html |website=www.fifa.com |publisher=FIFA |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715235643/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/melbourne1956/matches/round=197070/match=32404/index.html |archive-date=15 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> D'Souza also tied for top goalscorer in that edition of the Olympics, which helped India reach the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Olympics 1956 Statistics |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/melbourne1956/statistics/index.html |website=www.fifa.com |publisher=FIFA |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126005830/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/melbourne1956/statistics/index.html |archive-date=26 November 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Goswami represented India at the [[Football at the 1958 Asian Games|1958 Asian Games]] and the [[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics|1960 Olympics]], and captained the side during the [[Football at the 1962 Asian Games|1962 Asian Games]] and the [[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964 Asian Cup]].<ref name="Chuni goswami interview">{{cite web |title=Chuni Goswami: A legend in every sense of the word |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/sports/chuni-goswami-legend-every-sense-indian-football.html |website=theweek.in |publisher=The Week |access-date=22 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126011337/https://www.theweek.in/news/sports/chuni-goswami-legend-every-sense-indian-football.html |archive-date=26 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was bestowed with [[Padma Shri]] by the Government of India and AFC honoured him as "Best Striker of Asia" in 1962.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Football Legends |url=https://www.kolkatafootball.com/kolkatafootball_indian_legend_footballers_profile.html#chuni |website=kolkatafootball.com |publisher=Kolkata Football |access-date=22 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126175914/http://www.kolkatafootball.com/kolkatafootball_indian_legend_footballers_profile.html#chuni |archive-date=26 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+[[Pradip Kumar Banerjee|P. K. Banerjee]], a winger who represented India at the [[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Olympics]] and later captained the side during the [[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics|1960 Olympics]], was named as the best "Indian player of the 20th Century".<ref name="pk banerjee and peter thangaraj IFFHS players of century">{{cite web |title=IFFHS' Players and Keepers of the Century for many countries |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-country-complete.html |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=12 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626201343/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/iffhs-country-complete.html |archive-date=26 June 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Peter Thangaraj]] was the starting goalkeeper for India during the later stage of India's golden era, being named as best "Indian keeper of the 20th Century" by [[International Federation of Football History & Statistics|IFFHS]].<ref name="pk banerjee and peter thangaraj IFFHS players of century"/> P. K. Banerjee was honoured with [[Padma Shri]] by Government of India in 1990, and in 2004 [[FIFA]] bestowed him with "[[FIFA Order of Merit|FIFA Centennial Order of Merit]]" Award, the highest honour awarded by FIFA.<ref>{{cite web |title=PK Banerjee gets FIFA Centennial Order of Merit awards |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/pk-banerjee-gets-fifa-centennial-order-of-merit/230174 |website=outlookindia.com |publisher=The Outlook India |access-date=12 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912091912/https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/pk-banerjee-gets-fifa-centennial-order-of-merit/230174 |archive-date=12 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+From the 1970s to the 2000s, India saw a decline in their results. Despite the lack of tournament victories, the country managed to produce players like [[Syed Nayeemuddin]] who led India to bronze at the [[Football at the 1970 Asian Games|1970 Asian Games]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1970 Asian Games Bronze Medallist and former India number one Bandya Kakade passes away |url=https://www.goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2012/10/18/3457662/1970-asian-games-bronze-medallist-and-former-india-number |website=goal.com |publisher=Goal |access-date=22 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126050950/https://www.goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2012/10/18/3457662/1970-asian-games-bronze-medallist-and-former-india-number |archive-date=26 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> During the 1990s, [[I. M. Vijayan]], India's best player at the time, was capped 66 times for India while scoring 29 goals and captaining the team several times.<ref>{{cite web |title=Invalappil Mani Vijayan - Goals in International Matches |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/imvijayan-intlg.html |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=22 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103633/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/imvijayan-intlg.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+[[File:Sunil Chhetri (2008 AFC Challenge Cup).jpg|220px|thumb|right|[[Sunil Chhetri]] celebrating after scoring a goal]]
+In 1995, [[Bhaichung Bhutia]] debuted for India. With Bhutia, India qualified for the [[AFC Asian Cup]] after a drought of 27 years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Baichung Bhutia Biography |url=https://www.mapsofindia.com/who-is-who/sports/baichung-bhutia.html |website=www.mapsofindia.com |date=February 2018 |publisher=Maps of India |access-date=25 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126005725/https://www.mapsofindia.com/who-is-who/sports/baichung-bhutia.html |archive-date=26 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was the captain of the team for over ten years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bhaichung Bhutia-Inspirational leader both on and off the field |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/bhaichung-bhutia-inspirational-leader-both-on-and-off-the-field/article2392770.ece|work=The Hindu|date=27 August 2011|access-date=25 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126005848/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/bhaichung-bhutia-inspirational-leader-both-on-and-off-the-field/article2392770.ece |archive-date=26 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bhutia brings down the curtain on his international career |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/bhutia-brings-down-the-curtain-on-his-international-career/article2393542.ece|work=The Hindu|date=24 August 2011 |access-date=25 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326101849/http://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/bhutia-brings-down-the-curtain-on-his-international-career/article2393542.ece |archive-date=26 March 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bhaichung Bhutia Retires From International Football at the Age of 34 |url=https://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2696/indian-national-team/2011/08/24/2633906/bhaichung-bhutia-retires-from-international-football-at-the |website=goal.com |access-date=25 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126051014/https://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2696/indian-national-team/2011/08/24/2633906/bhaichung-bhutia-retires-from-international-football-at-the |archive-date=26 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Considered one of the greatest footballers of India, he is the second-most-capped player of India with 82 caps and scored 27 times for India. He was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] in 2008<ref name="award winning footballers"/> and [[International Federation of Football History & Statistics|IFFHS]] listed him among the legendary players of football in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=IFFHS ANNOUNCE THE 48 FOOTBALL LEGEND PLAYERS |url=https://iffhs.com/dev/4089/iffhs-has-announced-the-48-football-legend-players/ |website=iffhs.com |publisher=IFFHS |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220002732/https://iffhs.com/dev/4089/iffhs-has-announced-the-48-football-legend-players/ |archive-date=20 February 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
+Under Bhutia's captaincy [[Sunil Chhetri]] debuted for India who is now the only footballer in India's history to have played 100 international matches and is the all-time highest goal-scorer of India.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sunil Chhetri 100th Match: Wishes Pour In, From Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag And Many More |url=https://sports.ndtv.com/football/sunil-chhetri-100th-match-wishes-pour-in-from-sachin-tendulkar-virender-sehwag-and-many-more-1862704 |website=ndtv.com |publisher=NDTV |access-date=15 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115182129/https://sports.ndtv.com/football/sunil-chhetri-100th-match-wishes-pour-in-from-sachin-tendulkar-virender-sehwag-and-many-more-1862704 |archive-date=15 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sunil Chhetri Overtakes Lionel Messi With Second-Highest International Goals Among Active Players |url=https://sports.ndtv.com/football/sunil-chhetri-overtakes-lionel-messi-with-second-highest-international-goals-among-active-players-1973464 |website=ndtv.com |publisher=NDTV |access-date=15 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115234141/https://sports.ndtv.com/football/sunil-chhetri-overtakes-lionel-messi-with-second-highest-international-goals-among-active-players-1973464 |archive-date=15 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Chhetri led the national team to many victories, most importantly qualifying for the [[AFC Asian Cup]] and under his leadership the team achieved its highest FIFA ranking of 96 after twenty-one years.<ref name="ind rise from 173rank"/><ref name="Ind improves ranking"/> His goal-scoring ability and skills made him the only Indian striker to score four hat-tricks for India.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/Chhetri-stars-as-India-wins/article15280546.ece|title=Chhetri stars as India wins|date=14 August 2008|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=15 July 2018|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703201623/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/Chhetri-stars-as-India-wins/article15280546.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/Sunil-Chetris-hat-trick-sinks-Vietnam/article15774373.ece|title=Sunil Chetri's hat-trick sinks Vietnam|date=9 October 2010|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=15 July 2018|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703201624/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/Sunil-Chetris-hat-trick-sinks-Vietnam/article15774373.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=chhetrihattrick3hindu>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/chhetri-helps-himself-to-a-triple-strike/article24062431.ece|title=Chhetri helps himself to a triple-strike|date=2 June 2018|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=15 July 2018|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703201652/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/chhetri-helps-himself-to-a-triple-strike/article24062431.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Sunil Chhetri is now the [[List of men's footballers with 50 or more international goals|third-highest international goalscorer]] among active players, behind only [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] and [[Lionel Messi]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Captain Fantastic Chhetri strike seals India's 1–0 win over Kyrgyzstan.|newspaper=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/captain-fantastic-chhetri-strike-seals-india-s-1-0-win-over-kyrgyzstan-117061301402_1.html|publisher=Business Standard|date=13 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021234034/http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/captain-fantastic-chhetri-strike-seals-india-s-1-0-win-over-kyrgyzstan-117061301402_1.html|archive-date=21 October 2017|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Captain fantastic Sunil Chhetri seals 2018 Intercontinental Cup for India|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/football/100618/sunil-chhetri-indian-football-team-2018-intercontinental-cup-stephen-c.html|publisher=Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited|date=10 June 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611022644/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/football/100618/sunil-chhetri-indian-football-team-2018-intercontinental-cup-stephen-c.html|archive-date=11 June 2018}}</ref> but fourth overall, and is also the [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps|most-capped player]] and the [[List of top international men's football goal scorers by country|all-time top goalscorer]] of the India national team.<ref name="Sunil Chhetri: No better place than Doha for Indian football's Asian revival">{{cite news|date=3 November 2016|title=Sunil Chhetri: No better place than Doha for Indian football's Asian revival|publisher=Gulf Times|url=http://www.gulf-times.com/story/519789/Sunil-Chhetri-No-better-place-than-Doha-for-Indian|url-status=live|access-date=18 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118170239/http://www.gulf-times.com/story/519789/Sunil-Chhetri-No-better-place-than-Doha-for-Indian|archive-date=18 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="AFC Cup 2016: Sunil Chhetri – The captain who leads by example">{{cite web |url=http://www.sportskeeda.com/football/afc-cup-2016-sunil-chhetri-captain-leads-example |title=AFC Cup 2016: Sunil Chhetri – The captain who leads by example |website=Sportskeeda |date=20 October 2016 |access-date=18 November 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118163955/http://www.sportskeeda.com/football/afc-cup-2016-sunil-chhetri-captain-leads-example |archive-date=18 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="We're upbeat: Sunil">{{cite news|date=3 November 2016|title=We're upbeat: Sunil|newspaper=The Telegraph|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1161103/jsp/sports/story_117161.jsp#.WC7CPRKKVp0|url-status=dead|access-date=18 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118163907/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1161103/jsp/sports/story_117161.jsp#.WC7CPRKKVp0|archive-date=18 November 2016}}</ref>
+== Competitive record ==
+{{See also|India national football team records and statistics}}
+=== FIFA World Cup ===
+India has never played in the finals of the FIFA World Cup.<ref name="India 1950">{{cite news|last1=Choudhury|first1=Chandrahas|title=Blame India's World Cup Drought on the Shoes|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2014-06-11/blame-india-s-world-cup-drought-on-the-shoes|access-date=30 May 2016|work=Bloomberg|date=11 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406182813/https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2014-06-11/blame-india-s-world-cup-drought-on-the-shoes|archive-date=6 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> After gaining independence in 1947, India managed to qualify for the World Cup held in [[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/50f.html|title=World Cup 1950 (Brazil, June 24-July 16)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=20 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720114904/https://www.rsssf.org/tables/50f.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This was due to [[Myanmar national football team|Myanmar]], [[Indonesia national football team|Indonesia]], and the [[Philippines national football team|Philippines]] withdrawing from [[1950 FIFA World Cup qualification#Group 10|qualification round]].<ref name="India 1950"/> However, prior to the start of the tournament, India themselves withdrew due to the expenses required in getting the team to Brazil.<ref name="India 1950"/> But this reason was untrue because FIFA was ready to give money to India (AIFF) for their trip to Brazil.<ref>{{Cite web |last8=URLCopied! |date=2011-07-19 |title=Did India withdraw from the 1950 World Cup because they were not allowed to play barefoot? |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/sports-now/story/2011-07-19/did-india-withdraw-from-the-1950-world-cup-because-they-were-not-allowed-to-play-barefoot |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=11 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111124551/https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/sports-now/story/2011-07-19/did-india-withdraw-from-the-1950-world-cup-because-they-were-not-allowed-to-play-barefoot |url-status=live }}</ref> Other reasons cited for why India withdrew include [[FIFA]] not allowing Indian players to play in the tournament ''barefoot'' and the [[All India Football Federation]] not considering the FIFA World Cup an important tournament compared to the [[Summer Olympics|Olympics]], but according to some pundits ''barefoot'' was a made up story, manufactured by AIFF to stop people asking questions on "why India didn't participate in the 1950 FIFA world cup?"<ref>{{Cite web |last8=! |date=2011-07-19 |title=Did India withdraw from the 1950 World Cup because they were not allowed to play barefoot? |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/sports-now/story/2011-07-19/did-india-withdraw-from-the-1950-world-cup-because-they-were-not-allowed-to-play-barefoot |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=11 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111124551/https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/sports-now/story/2011-07-19/did-india-withdraw-from-the-1950-world-cup-because-they-were-not-allowed-to-play-barefoot |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="India 1950" />  AIFF did not have confidence in then Indian players that they would complete in world cup against world’s top teams and win.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-10 |title=Why India did not compete in the 1950 football World Cup (and no, it wasn't because they didn't have boots) |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/why-india-did-not-compete-in-the-1950-football-world-cup-and-no-it-wasnt-because-they-didnt-have-boots-8260087/ |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=22 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122081011/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/why-india-did-not-compete-in-the-1950-football-world-cup-and-no-it-wasnt-because-they-didnt-have-boots-8260087/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
+After withdrawing from the 1950 FIFA World Cup, India did not enter the qualifying rounds of the tournament between [[1954 FIFA World Cup|1954]] and [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]].<ref name="World Cup record">{{cite web|title=The Indian National Team's World Cup qualifying |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/data/worldcupq.html |website=Indianfootball.de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614204013/http://www.indianfootball.de/data/worldcupq.html |archive-date=14 June 2010  }}</ref> Since the [[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification|1986 qualifiers]], with the exception of the [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990 edition]] of the tournament, the team participated in World Cup qualification, but has yet to qualify for the finals again.<ref name="World Cup record"/>
+{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;" width="100%" class="wikitable"
+|-
+!colspan=10 style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|FIFA World Cup record
+!width="1" rowspan=28 style="background:#FFFFFF; color:white"|
+!colspan=7 style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|Qualification record
+|-
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="15%|Year
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="10%|Round
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|Pld|Games played}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|{{Abbr|W|Won}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|D|Drawn}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|L|Lost}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|GF|Goals for}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|GA|Goals against}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|Squad
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|Pos|Position}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|Pld|Games played}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|W|Won}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|D|Drawn}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|L|Lost}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|GF|Goals for}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|GA|Goals against}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|Ref.
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Uruguay}} [[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930]]<br />to<br />{{flagicon|France}} [[1938 FIFA World Cup|1938]]
+|colspan=9 {{NA|''Did not enter''}}
+|colspan=6 {{NA|''Did not enter''}}||–
+|-style="background:#FFDACC"
+|{{flagicon|Brazil|1889}} [[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]]
+|colspan=9|''[[1950 FIFA World Cup Group 3|Qualified, but withdrew]]''
+|colspan=6|''[[1950 FIFA World Cup qualification#Group 10|Qualified by default]]''||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/50q.html|title=World Cup 1950 Qualifying|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=20 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720114854/https://www.rsssf.org/tables/50q.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[1954 FIFA World Cup|1954]]
+|colspan=9 {{NA|''Denied by FIFA''}}
+|colspan=6 {{NA|''Denied by FIFA''}}||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/54qual.html|title=World Cup 1954 qualifications|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=10 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110103712/https://www.rsssf.org/tables/54qual.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]]<br />to<br />{{flagicon|Spain}} [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]]
+|colspan=9 {{NA|''Did not enter''}}
+|colspan=6 {{NA|''Did not enter''}}||–
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Mexico}} [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]]
+|rowspan=10 colspan=9 {{NA|''Did not qualify''}}
+|[[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#AFC Zone B (East)|6]]
+|2
+|3
+|1
+|7
+|6
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/86qual.html|title=World Cup 1986 qualifictions|access-date=11 December 2021|archive-date=10 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110103049/https://www.rsssf.org/tables/86qual.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Italy}} [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]]
+|colspan=6 {{NA|''Withdrew from qualification''}} ||–
+|-
+|{{flagicon|United States}} [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]]
+|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#Group D|8]]
+|1
+|1
+|6
+|8
+|22
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/94qual.html|title=World Cup 1994 qualifications|access-date=11 December 2021|archive-date=11 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511105448/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/94qual.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|France|1974}} [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]
+|[[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#Group 10|3]]
+|1
+|1
+|1
+|3
+|7
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/98qual.html|title=World Cup 1998 qualifications|access-date=11 December 2021|archive-date=21 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821065544/https://www.rsssf.org/tables/98qual.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|South Korea}} {{flagicon|Japan}} [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]]
+|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#Group 8|6]]
+|3
+|2
+|1
+|11
+|5
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2002q.html|title=World Cup 2002 qualifications|access-date=11 December 2021|archive-date=16 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116173331/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/2002q.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Germany}} [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]]
+|[[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#Group 3|6]]
+|1
+|1
+|4
+|2
+|18
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2006q.html|title=World Cup 2006 Qualifying|access-date=11 December 2021|archive-date=20 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720114857/https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2006q.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|South Africa}} [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010]]
+|[[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#First round|2]]
+|0
+|1
+|1
+|3
+|6
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2010q.html|title=World Cup 2010 Qualifying|access-date=11 December 2021|archive-date=20 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720114908/https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2010q.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]]
+|[[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round#United Arab Emirates v India|2]]
+|0
+|1
+|1
+|2
+|5
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2014q.html|title=World Cup 2014 Qualifying|access-date=11 December 2021|archive-date=20 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720114900/https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2014q.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Russia}} [[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018]]
+|[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#Group D|8]]
+|2
+|1
+|7
+|7
+|18
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2018q.html|title=World Cup 2018 Qualifying|access-date=11 December 2021|archive-date=20 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720114904/https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2018q.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Qatar}} [[2022 FIFA World Cup|2022]]
+|[[2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)#Group E|8]]
+|1
+|4
+|3
+|6
+|7
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2022q.html#asi|title=World Cup 2022 Qualifying|access-date=26 December 2022|archive-date=26 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226094910/https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2022q.html#asi|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Canada}} {{flagicon|Mexico}} {{flagicon|USA}} [[2026 FIFA World Cup|2026]]
+|colspan=9 {{Pending|''To be determined''}}
+|colspan=6 {{Pending|''To be determined''}} ||–
+|-
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''Total'''
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''—'''
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''0/22'''
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''0'''
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''0'''
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''0'''
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''0'''
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''0'''
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''0'''
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''—'''
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''[[India at the FIFA World Cup qualification|51]]'''
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''11'''
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''15'''
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''25'''
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''49'''
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''93'''
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''—'''
+|}
+=== AFC Asian Cup ===
+[[File:THA-IND match 20190106 AFC Asian Cup 3.jpg|190px|thumb|right|alt=|Indian players celebrating with fans after winning a match at [[2019 AFC Asian Cup Group A|2019 AFC Asian Cup]].]]
+{{main|India at the AFC Asian Cup}}
+India has qualified for the [[AFC Asian Cup]] five times. The team played their first Asian Cup in [[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964]]. The team managed to qualify following other nations' refusal to play against India due to political reasons.<ref name="India at AFC history">{{cite web |title=India's performances at the AFC Asian Cup |url=http://www.goal.com/en-in/news/india-afc-asian-cup-2019-indian-football/jfmg5uewl6ha1akznnjy4249l |website=goal.com |publisher=GOAL |access-date=28 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928161335/http://www.goal.com/en-in/news/india-afc-asian-cup-2019-indian-football/jfmg5uewl6ha1akznnjy4249l |archive-date=28 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="rsssf AFC cup 1964">{{cite web|title=Asian Nations Cup 1964|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/64asch.html|website=RSSSF|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420094350/http://rsssf.com/tables/64asch.html|archive-date=20 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> India managed to finish the tournament as runners-up to hosts [[Israel national football team|Israel]], with [[Inder Singh (footballer)|Inder Singh]] finishing as joint top-scorer.<ref name="rsssf AFC cup 1964"/> Since then India has failed to progress beyond the first round of the Asian Cup with their participation at the [[1984 AFC Asian Cup|1984]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Asian Nations Cup 1984 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/84asch.html |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=14 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014174849/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/84asch.html |archive-date=14 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]] Asian Cups,<ref>{{cite web |title=Asian Nations Cup 2011 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/11asch.html |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=14 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320095412/http://rsssf.com/tables/11asch.html |archive-date=20 March 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> and most recently the [[2019 AFC Asian Cup|2019 Asian Cup]].<ref name="India 2019 AFC"/>
+In June 2022, India qualified for the [[2023 AFC Asian Cup]] after winning all the matches in the third round of [[2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification – third round|2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification]]. This is the first time ever India qualified consecutively for the continental championship.<ref name="2023AFCqual"/>
+{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;" width="100%" class="wikitable"
+|-
+!colspan=10 style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|[[AFC Asian Cup]] record
+!width="1" rowspan=28 style="background:#FFFFFF; color:white"|
+!colspan=7 style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|[[AFC Asian Cup qualification]]
+|-
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="15%|Year
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="10%|Result
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|Position
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|Pld|Games played}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}|{{Abbr|W|Won}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|D|Draw}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|L|Lost}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|GF|Goals for}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|GA|Goals against}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|Squad
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|Pld|Games played}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|W|Won}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|D|Draw}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|L|Lost}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|GF|Goals for}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|{{Abbr|GA|Goals against}}
+!style="background:#FF671F; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"width="5%|Ref.
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Hong Kong|1910}} [[1956 AFC Asian Cup|1956]]||colspan=9 {{NA|''Did not enter''}} ||colspan=6 {{NA|''Did not enter''}}||–
+|-
+|{{flagicon|South Korea}} [[1960 AFC Asian Cup|1960]]||colspan=9 {{NA|''Did not qualify''}}||[[1960 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Western zone|6]]||2||0||4||7||9||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/60asch.html|title=Asian Nations Cup 1960|access-date=18 October 2022|archive-date=18 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018102508/https://www.rsssf.org/tables/60asch.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-style="background:silver;"
+|{{flagicon|Israel}} '''[[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964]]'''||'''Runners-up'''||'''2nd'''||'''3'''||'''2'''||'''0'''||'''1'''||'''5'''||'''3'''||'''[[1964 AFC Asian Cup squads#.C2.A0India|Squad]]'''||colspan=6|''[[1964 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Western zone|Qualified by default]]''||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/64asch.html|title=Asian Nations Cup 1964|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=2 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102012632/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/64asch.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Iran|1964}} [[1968 AFC Asian Cup|1968]]||colspan=9 {{NA|''Did not qualify''}}||[[1968 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Western zone|3]]||0||1||2||2||6||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/68asch.html|title=Asian Nations Cup 1968|access-date=18 October 2022|archive-date=29 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129073049/https://rsssf.org/tables/68asch.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Thailand}} [[1972 AFC Asian Cup|1972]]||colspan=9 rowspan=3 {{NA|''Did not enter''}}||colspan=6 rowspan=3 {{NA|''Did not enter''}}||–
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Iran|1964}} [[1976 AFC Asian Cup|1976]]||–
+|-
+|{{flagicon|KUW}} [[1980 AFC Asian Cup|1980]]||–
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Singapore}} [[1984 AFC Asian Cup|1984]]||Group stage||10th||4||0||1||3||0||7||[[1984 AFC Asian Cup squads#.C2.A0India|Squad]]||[[1984 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group 3|4]]||3||0||1||8||2||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/84asch.html|title=Asian Nations Cup 1984|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=5 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005150518/https://www.rsssf.org/tables/84asch.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Qatar}} [[1988 AFC Asian Cup|1988]]||colspan=9 rowspan=6 {{NA|''Did not qualify''}}
+|[[1988 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group 1|5]]||0||1||4||0||6||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/88asch.html|title=Asian Nations Cup 1988|access-date=30 December 2022|archive-date=29 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129073254/https://rsssf.org/tables/88asch.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[1992 AFC Asian Cup|1992]]
+|[[1988 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group 3|2]]||1||0||1||2||3||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/92asch.html|title=Asian Nations Cup 1992|access-date=30 December 2022|archive-date=29 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129064520/https://rsssf.org/tables/92asch.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[1996 AFC Asian Cup|1996]]
+|[[1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group 3|2]]||0||0||2||3||12||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/96asch.html|title=Asian Nations Cup 1996|access-date=30 December 2022|archive-date=29 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129085329/https://rsssf.org/tables/96asch.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|LIB}} [[2000 AFC Asian Cup|2000]]
+|[[2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification#|4]]||1||1||2||8||9||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/00asch.html|title=Asian Nations Cup 2000|access-date=30 December 2022|archive-date=1 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401085957/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/00asch.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004]]
+|[[2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group G|2]]||0||1||1||1||3||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/04asch.html|title=Asian Nations Cup 2004|access-date=30 December 2022|archive-date=13 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613125728/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/04asch.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|IDN}} {{flagicon|MAS}} {{flagicon|THA}} {{flagicon|VIE}} [[2007 AFC Asian Cup|2007]]
+|[[2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group A|6]]||0||0||6||2||24||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/07asch.html|title=Asian Nations Cup 2007|access-date=30 December 2022|archive-date=18 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218193517/https://www.rsssf.org/tables/07asch.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Qatar}} [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]]||[[2011 AFC Asian Cup Group C|Group stage]]||16th||3||0||0||3||3||13||[[2011 AFC Asian Cup squads#India|Squad]]||colspan=6 rowspan=2|[[AFC Challenge Cup]]||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/11asch.html|title=Asian Nations Cup 2011|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=14 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014084316/https://www.rsssf.org/tables/11asch.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Australia}} [[2015 AFC Asian Cup|2015]]||colspan=9 rowspan=1 {{NA|''Did not qualify''}} ||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2015asch.html|title=Asian Nations Cup 2015|access-date=26 December 2022|archive-date=29 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129075428/https://rsssf.org/tables/2015asch.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|United Arab Emirates}} [[2019 AFC Asian Cup|2019]]||[[2019 AFC Asian Cup Group A|Group stage]]||17th||3||1||0||2||4||4||[[2019 AFC Asian Cup squads#India|Squad]]||[[2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification|18]]||8||2||8||25||24||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2019asch.html|title=Asian Nations Cup 2019|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=23 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123160525/https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2019asch.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Qatar}} [[2023 AFC Asian Cup|2023]]|| colspan="9" rowspan=2 {{Pending|''To be determined''}}||[[2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification|11]]||4||4||3||14||8||–
+|-
+|{{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} [[2027 AFC Asian Cup|2027]]
+|colspan=7 {{Pending|''To be determined''}}
+|-
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|'''Totals'''
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|Runners-up
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|2nd
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|13
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|3
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|1
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|9
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|12
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|27
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|—
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|63
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|19
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|11
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|33
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|73
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|106
+!style="background:#046A38; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#06038D|2px}}"|—
+|}
+=== Summer Olympics ===
+{{Main|India national football team at the Olympics}}
+[[File:India vs france 31st july 1948 team arriving.jpg|190px|thumb|right|alt=Members of India national team at the 1948 Olympics|[[Talimeren Ao]] on the left, leading the Indian team to [[Cricklefield Stadium]] to play against [[France national football team|France]] in 1948.]]
+India competed in four straight Olympic football tournaments between 1948 and 1960.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1948f-det.html|title=XIV. Olympiad London 1948 Football Tournament|access-date=3 September 2022|archive-date=3 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903031448/https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1948f-det.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Their sole [[Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics|1948 Olympics]] match against [[France national football team|France]] was also India's first ever international match since the country gained independence in 1947.<ref name="Pierre"/> During the match, a majority of the Indian side played barefoot.<ref name="Pierre"/> The match ended in a 2–1 defeat, with [[Sarangapani Raman]] scoring the lone goal for India.<ref name="Pierre"/> India then returned to the Olympics four years later where they took on [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] in the preliminary rounds. The team suffered a 10–1 defeat, India's largest margin of defeat in a competitive match, and were knocked out.<ref>{{cite web |title=Yugoslavia 10-1 India |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1952f.html |website=RSSSF |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922182234/http://rsssf.com/tableso/ol1952f.html |archive-date=22 September 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+Four years later, during the [[1956 Summer Olympics|1956]] Olympics, India managed to reach the semi-finals and finish fourth. After India's first round opponents, [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]], withdrew from the tournament, the team played against hosts [[Australia national soccer team|Australia]] in the quarter-finals. A [[Neville D'Souza]] hat-trick, the first by an Asian footballer in the Olympics, helped India win 4–2.<ref name="O56">{{cite web |title=Olympics 1956 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1956f.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922131126/http://rsssf.com/tableso/ol1956f.html |url-status=live |archive-date=2008-09-22 |website=RSSSF}}</ref> However, in the semi-finals, India once again suffered defeat against Yugoslavia, going down 4–1. In the bronze medal match, India were defeated 3–0 by [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]].<ref name="O56"/>
+In 1960, India competed in Group D with Hungary, France and [[Peru national football team|Peru]]. India ended the group in last place, drawing once.<ref>{{cite web |title=Olympics 1960 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1960f.html |website=RSSSF |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922193020/http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1960f.html |archive-date=22 September 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> India have since failed to qualify for another Olympic games.
+{| class="wikitable " style="text-align: center;"
+|-
+!colspan=10 |[[Summer Olympics]] record
+! rowspan="10" style="width:1%;" |
+!colspan=7 |[[Summer Olympics]] qualification record
+|-
+! style="width:110px;"|Host/Year
+! style="width:100px;"|Result
+! style="width:70px;"|Position
+! style="width:20px;"|{{Abbr|Pld|Games played}}
+! style="width:20px;"|{{Abbr|W|Won}}
+! style="width:20px;"|{{Abbr|D|Draw}}
+! style="width:20px;"|{{Abbr|L|Lost}}
+! style="width:20px;"|{{Abbr|GF|Goals for}}
+! style="width:20px;"|{{Abbr|GA|Goals against}}
+! style="width:20px;"|Squad
+! style="width:20px;"|{{Abbr|Pld|Games played}}
+! style="width:20px;"|{{Abbr|W|Won}}
+! style="width:20px;"|{{Abbr|D|Draw}}
+! style="width:20px;"|{{Abbr|L|Lost}}
+! style="width:20px;"|{{Abbr|GF|Goals for}}
+! style="width:20px;"|{{Abbr|GA|Goals against}}
+! style="width:20px;"|Ref.
+|-
+|{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Football at the 1908 Summer Olympics|1908]] to {{flagicon|GER|1935}} [[Football at the 1936 Summer Olympics|1936]]
+| colspan="9" |''Did not enter''
+| colspan="6" |''Did not enter''
+|–
+|-
+|{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics|1948]]
+|Round 1
+|11th
+|1
+|0
+|0
+|1
+|1
+|2
+|[[Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads#.C2.A0India|Squad]]
+|colspan=6|''Qualified automatically''
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/london1948|title=Olympic Football Tournament London 1948: FIFA.com|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=10 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210090755/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/london1948|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics|1952]]
+|Preliminaries
+|25th
+|1
+|0
+|0
+|1
+|1
+|10
+|[[Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads#.C2.A0India|Squad]]
+|colspan=6|''Qualified automatically''
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/helsinki1952|title=Olympic Football Tournament Helsinki 1952: FIFA.com|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=10 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210091406/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/helsinki1952|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|- style="background:#9acdff;"
+|{{flagicon|AUS}} '''[[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956]]'''
+|'''Semi-finals'''
+|'''4th'''
+|'''3'''
+|'''1'''
+|'''0'''
+|'''2'''
+|'''5'''
+|'''9'''
+|'''[[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads#.C2.A0India|Squad]]'''
+|colspan=6|''[[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification#Asia|Bye]]''
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/melbourne1956|title=Olympic Football Tournament Melbourne 1956: FIFA.com|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624132955/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/melbourne1956|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics|1960]]
+|Round 1
+|13th
+|3
+|0
+|1
+|2
+|3
+|6
+|[[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads#.C2.A0India|Squad]]
+|[[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification#Asia|3]]
+|3
+|0
+|0
+|11
+|4
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/rome1960|title=Olympic Football Tournament Rome 1960: FIFA.com|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=10 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210092258/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/rome1960|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics|1964]] to {{flagicon|KOR|1949}} [[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988]]
+| colspan="9" |''Did not qualify''
+|20
+|6
+|1
+|13
+|34
+|38
+|–
+|-
+|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Football at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992]]–present
+| colspan="9" |''See [[India national under-23 football team|India national U-23 team]]''
+| colspan="7" |''See [[India national under-23 football team|India national U-23 team]]''
+|-
+!'''Total'''!!'''Semi-finals'''!!'''4th'''!!'''8'''!!'''1'''!!'''1'''!!'''6'''!!'''10'''!!'''27''' !! —!! '''23''' !! '''9''' !! '''1''' !! '''13''' !! '''45''' !! '''42'''!!–
+|}
+=== Asian Games ===
+{{Main|India national football team at the Asian Games}}
+[[File:1962 Asiad India football team Gold Medal winner.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Indian team celebrating after defeating [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] in the final of [[Football at the 1962 Asian Games|1962 Asiad]] at [[Gelora Bung Karno Stadium|Senayan Main Stadium]], [[Jakarta]].|alt=India national football team dancing after winning the gold medal at 1962 Asian Games football tournament]]
+India competed in eleven Asian Games, starting from [[1951 Asian Games|1951]] to [[1998 Asian Games|1998]], except the [[1990 Asian Games|1990]] and [[1994 Asian Games|1994]] editions.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2016/12/20/the-1962-asian-games-when-india-conquered-the-continent|title=When India Conquered the continent|access-date=22 January 2021|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109040540/https://thesefootballtimes.co/2016/12/20/the-1962-asian-games-when-india-conquered-the-continent/|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[1951 Asian Games|1951]] Asian Games India won their first match against [[Indonesia national football team|Indonesia]] in the first round and then defeated Japan in semi-final and went on to win against Iran in the final in front of the home crowd. The achievement of the Indian team was a special one as they became the first ever [[Asian Games]] gold medalists in football and also the first ever Asian football champions as well.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/indian-football-team-at-the-asian-games-1951-new-delhi|title=Indian football team at the 1951 Asian Games|access-date=22 January 2021|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112033/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/indian-football-team-at-the-asian-games-1951-new-delhi|url-status=live}}</ref>
+Though the next two tournaments proved to be less successful for the team, but they bounced back by winning the gold at the [[1962 Asian Games|1962]] Asian games by defeating the [[1960 AFC Asian Cup|Asian Cup]] winners South Korea in the final to win their second continental title. The team failed to defend their title in [[1966 Asian Games|1966]] and went on to claim the bronze medal in [[1970 Asian Games|1970]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.news18.com/news/sports/when-fifa-president-called-indian-football-team-as-best-technical-side-of-asia-3196571.html|title=The best technical team in Asia|access-date=22 January 2021|archive-date=22 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222001157/https://www.news18.com/news/sports/when-fifa-president-called-indian-football-team-as-best-technical-side-of-asia-3196571.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+This was the last time India ever finished on the medal podium, the next years proved to be hard for the Indian team to regain their dominance as the side went through a sharp decline.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/indian-national-football-team-how-a-drubbing-against-myanmar/1itsq2ad0gm5419idiy1x0lny6|title=Disaster against Myanmar|access-date=22 January 2021|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111221213/https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/indian-national-football-team-how-a-drubbing-against-myanmar/1itsq2ad0gm5419idiy1x0lny6|url-status=live}}</ref> After two disappointing editions in [[1974 Asian Games|1974]] and [[1978 Asian Games|1978]], India performed much better in the [[1982 Asian Games|1982]] Asiad, which they hosted for the second time by reaching the quarter-finals but lost to Saudi Arabia. Due to the poor performance in [[1986 Asian Games|1986]] Asian Games the authorities decided not to send the team for the upcoming games.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/indian-football-team-at-the-asian-games-1986-seoul|title=India football team at the 1986 Asian Games|access-date=22 January 2021|archive-date=16 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916004829/http://www.sportskeeda.com/football/indian-football-team-at-the-asian-games-1986-seoul|url-status=live}}</ref> The team made their return in [[1998 Asian Games|1998]].
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
+|-
+!colspan=11|[[Asian Games]] record
+|-
+! style="width:135px;"|Host/Year
+! style="width:135px;"|Result
+! style="width:120px;"|Position
+! style="width:40px;"|{{Abbr|Pld|Games played}}
+! style="width:40px;"|{{Abbr|W|Won}}
+! style="width:40px;"|{{Abbr|D|Draw}}
+! style="width:40px;"|{{Abbr|L|Lost}}
+! style="width:40px;"|{{Abbr|GF|Goals for}}
+! style="width:40px;"|{{Abbr|GA|Goals against}}
+! style="width:70px;"|Squad
+! style="width:50px;"|Ref.
+|-style="background:gold;"
+|style="border: 3px solid red"|{{flagicon|IND}} '''[[Football at the 1951 Asian Games|1951]]'''
+|'''Champions'''
+|'''1st'''
+|'''3'''
+|'''3'''
+|'''0'''
+|'''0'''
+|'''7'''
+|'''0'''
+|'''[[Football at the 1951 Asian Games - Squads#India|Squad]]'''
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames51.html|title=Asian Games 1951 (India)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161946/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames51.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|PHL|1936}} [[Football at the 1954 Asian Games|1954]]
+|Round 1
+|8th
+|2
+|1
+|0
+|1
+|3
+|6
+|[[Football at the 1954 Asian Games - Squads#India|Squad]]
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames54.html|title=Asian Games 1954|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161945/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames54.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|- style="background:#9acdff;"
+|{{flagicon|JPN}} '''[[Football at the 1958 Asian Games|1958]]'''
+|'''Semi-finals'''
+|'''4th'''
+|'''5'''
+|'''2'''
+|'''0'''
+|'''3'''
+|'''12'''
+|'''13'''
+|'''[[Football at the 1958 Asian Games - Squads#India|Squad]]'''
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames58.html|title=Asian Games 1958 (Tokyo, Japan)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225010545/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/asgames58.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-style="background:gold"
+|{{flagicon|IDN}} '''[[Football at the 1962 Asian Games|1962]]'''
+|'''Champions'''
+|'''1st'''
+|'''5'''
+|'''4'''
+|'''0'''
+|'''1'''
+|'''11'''
+|'''6'''
+|'''[[Football at the 1962 Asian Games - Squads#India|Squad]]'''
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames62.html|title=Asian Games 1962 (Indonesia)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161945/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames62.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|THA}} [[Football at the 1966 Asian Games|1966]]
+|Round 1
+|8th
+|3
+|1
+|0
+|2
+|4
+|7
+|[[Football at the 1966 Asian Games - Squads#India|Squad]]
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames66.html|title=Asian Games 1966 (Thailand)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161946/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames66.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-style="background:#c96;
+|{{flagicon|THA}} '''[[Football at the 1970 Asian Games|1970]]'''
+|'''Third Place'''
+|'''3rd'''
+|'''6'''
+|'''3'''
+|'''1'''
+|'''2'''
+|'''8'''
+|'''5'''
+|'''[[Football at the 1970 Asian Games - Squads#India|Squad]]'''
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames70.html|title=Asian Games 1970|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161946/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames70.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|IRN|1964}} [[Football at the 1974 Asian Games|1974]]
+|Round 1
+|13th
+|3
+|0
+|0
+|3
+|2
+|14
+|[[Football at the 1974 Asian Games - Squads#India|Squad]]
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames74.html|title=Asian Games 1974 (Iran)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161943/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames74.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|THA}} [[Football at the 1978 Asian Games|1978]]
+|Round 2
+|8th
+|5
+|1
+|0
+|4
+|5
+|13
+|[[Football at the 1978 Asian Games - Squads#India|Squad]]
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames78.html|title=Asian Games 1978|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161944/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames78.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|style="border: 3px solid red"|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Football at the 1982 Asian Games|1982]]
+|Quarter-finals
+|6th
+|4
+|2
+|1
+|1
+|5
+|3
+|[[Football at the 1982 Asian Games - Squads#India|Squad]]
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames82.html|title=Asian Games 1982|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161944/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames82.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Football at the 1986 Asian Games|1986]]
+|Round 1
+|16th
+|3
+|0
+|0
+|3
+|1
+|8
+|[[Football at the 1986 Asian Games - Squads#India|Squad]]
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames86.html|title=Asian Games 1986|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161944/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames86.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Football at the 1990 Asian Games – Men's tournament|1990]]
+|colspan=10|''did not enter''
+|-
+|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Football at the 1994 Asian Games – Men's tournament|1994]]
+|colspan=10|''did not enter''
+|-
+|{{flagicon|THA}} [[Football at the 1998 Asian Games – Men's tournament|1998]]
+|Round 2
+|16th
+|5
+|1
+|0
+|4
+|3
+|8
+|[[Football at the 1998 Asian Games - Squads#India|Squad]]
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames98.html|title=Asian Games 1998 (Thailand)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161945/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames98.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-
+|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Football at the 2002 Asian Games – Men's tournament|2002]]–present
+|colspan=10|''See [[India national under-23 football team#Asian Games|India national U-23 team]]''
+|-
+!'''Total'''!!'''2 Titles'''!!'''1st'''!!'''44'''!!'''18'''!!'''2'''!!'''24'''!!'''61'''!!'''83'''!!—!!—
+|}
+=== SAFF Championship ===
+India has played in all editions of the SAFF Championship (except in [[2009 SAFF Championship|2009]] when they sent [[India national under-23 football team|under-23 team]]) and has been the most successful team in the competition winning an overall eight titles.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianfootball.de/data/saffcup.html|title=SAFF Cup, indianfootball.de|access-date=22 January 2021|archive-date=2 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802072016/http://www.indianfootball.de/data/saffcup.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The team played in the knockout stage of every tournament except in [[1993 South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation Gold Cup|1993]] when the tournament was in a league format.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold93.html|title=RSSSF 1993 SAFF Cup|access-date=22 January 2021|archive-date=10 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410190814/http://rsssf.com/tabless/saffgold93.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The team also boasts a prestigious record of claiming medal at every championships played so far.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/hosts-india-land-tough-saff-championship-draw-27210|title=India land tough saff championship draw: AFC.com|access-date=18 June 2021|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624200821/https://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/hosts-india-land-tough-saff-championship-draw-27210|url-status=live}}</ref> India has played in the final of every championship except the [[2003 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|2003]] tournament where they claimed bronze medal for the first time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3883/features/2013/08/21/4204292/saff-championship-special-a-look-at-indias-history-in-the|title=India's Prestigious records at SAFF Championship|access-date=22 January 2021|archive-date=30 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630071002/https://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3883/features/2013/08/21/4204292/saff-championship-special-a-look-at-indias-history-in-the|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/how-the-indian-men-s-national-team-has-fared-in-asian-tournaments|title=Asian tournament records Sportskeeda.com|access-date=22 January 2021|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703201637/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/how-the-indian-men-s-national-team-has-fared-in-asian-tournaments|url-status=live}}</ref>
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
+|-
+!colspan=11|[[SAFF Championship]] record
+|-
+! style="width:135px;"|Host/Year
+! style="width:135px;"|Result
+! style="width:120px;"|Position
+! style="width:40px;"|{{Abbr|Pld|Games played}}
+! style="width:40px;"|{{Abbr|W|Won}}
+! style="width:40px;"|{{Abbr|D|Draw}}
+! style="width:40px;"|{{Abbr|L|Lost}}
+! style="width:40px;"|{{Abbr|GF|Goals for}}
+! style="width:40px;"|{{Abbr|GA|Goals against}}
+! style="width:70px;"|Squad
+! style="width:50px;"|Ref.
+|- style="background:gold;"
+|{{flagicon|Pakistan}} '''[[1993 South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation Gold Cup|1993]]'''||'''Champions'''||'''1st'''||'''3'''||'''2'''||'''1'''||'''0'''||'''4'''||'''1'''||'''{{N/A}}'''||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold93.html|title=1st SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) Tournament 1993|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=17 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817101638/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold93.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-style="background:silver;"
+|{{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} '''[[1995 South Asian Gold Cup|1995]]'''||'''Runners-up'''||'''2nd'''||'''3'''||'''0'''||'''2'''||'''1'''||'''2'''||'''3'''||'''[[1995 South Asian Gold Cup squads|Squad]]'''||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold95.html|title=South Asian Gold Cup 1995 (Colombo, Sri Lanka)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=11 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811002023/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold95.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-style="background:gold;"
+|{{flagicon|Nepal}} '''[[1997 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|1997]]'''||'''Champions'''||'''1st'''||'''4'''||'''3'''||'''1'''||'''0'''||'''12'''||'''3'''||'''{{N/A}}'''||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold97.html|title=South Asian Gold Cup 1997 (Kathmandu, Nepal)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=7 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207041541/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold97.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-style="background:gold;"
+|style="border: 3px solid red"|{{flagicon|India}} '''[[1999 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|1999]]'''||'''Champions'''||'''1st'''||'''4'''||'''3'''||'''1'''||'''0'''||'''6'''||'''1'''||'''[[1999 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup squads|Squad]]'''||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold99.html|title=South Asian Gold Cup 1999 (Margoa, Goa)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=28 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028070855/http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/saffgold99.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-style="background:#c96;"
+|{{flagicon|Bangladesh}} '''[[2003 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|2003]]'''||'''Third place'''||'''3rd'''||'''5'''||'''2'''||'''1'''||'''2'''||'''8'''||'''5'''||'''[[2003 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup squads|Squad]]'''||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold02.html|title=South Asian Gold Cup 2003 (Dhaka, Bangladesh)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161602/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold02.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-style="background:gold;"
+|{{flagicon|Pakistan}} '''[[2005 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|2005]]'''||'''Champions''' ||'''1st'''||'''5'''||'''4'''||'''1'''||'''0'''||'''9'''||'''2'''||'''[[2005 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup squads|Squad]]'''||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold05.html|title=South Asian Gold Cup 2005 (Karachi, Pakistan)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=24 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224024944/http://rsssf.com/tabless/saffgold05.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-style="background:silver;"
+|{{flagicon|Maldives}} {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} '''[[2008 SAFF Championship|2008]]'''||'''Runners-up'''||'''2nd'''||'''5'''||'''4'''||'''0'''||'''1'''||'''9'''||'''3'''||'''[[2008 SAFF Championship squads|Squad]]'''||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold08.html|title=South Asian Gold Cup 2008 (Colombo and Malé)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108052137/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold08.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-style="background:gold;"
+|style="border: 3px solid red"|{{flagicon|India}} '''[[2011 SAFF Championship|2011]]'''||'''[[2011 SAFF Championship Final|Champions]]''' ||'''1st'''||'''5'''||'''4'''||'''1'''||'''0'''||'''16'''||'''2'''||'''[[2011 SAFF Championship squads|Squad]]'''||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold2011.html|title=South Asian Gold Cup 2011 (New Delhi)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=9 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209173329/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold2011.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-style="background:silver;"
+|{{flagicon|Nepal}} '''[[2013 SAFF Championship|2013]]'''||'''[[2013 SAFF Championship Final|Runners-up]]'''||'''2nd'''||'''5'''||'''2'''||'''1'''||'''2'''||'''4'''||'''5'''||'''[[2013 SAFF Championship squads|Squad]]'''||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold2013.html|title=South Asian Championship 2013 (Kathmandu)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108050351/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold2013.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-style="background:gold;"
+|style="border: 3px solid red"|{{flagicon|India}} '''[[2015 SAFF Championship|2015]]'''||'''[[2015 SAFF Championship Final|Champions]]'''||'''1st'''||'''4'''||'''4'''||'''0'''||'''0'''||'''11'''||'''4'''||'''[[2015 SAFF Championship squads|Squad]]'''||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold2015.html|title=South Asian Championship 2015/16 (Trivandrum)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=2 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202003307/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold2015.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-style="background:silver;"
+|{{flagicon|Bangladesh}} '''[[2018 SAFF Championship|2018]]'''||'''[[2018 SAFF Championship|Runners-up]]'''||'''2nd'''||'''4'''||'''3'''||'''0'''||'''1'''||'''8'''||'''3'''||'''[[2018 SAFF Championship squads|Squad]]'''||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold2018.html|title=South Asian Championship 2018 (Dhaka)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=10 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810232847/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold2018.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-style="background:gold;"
+|{{flagicon|Maldives}} '''[[2021 SAFF Championship|2021]]'''||'''Champions'''||'''1st'''||'''5'''||'''3'''||'''2'''||'''0'''||'''8'''||'''2'''||'''[[2021 SAFF Championship squads#India|Squad]]'''||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold2021.html|title=South Asian Championship 2021 (Malé)|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=13 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813192456/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold2021.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+|-style="background:gold;"
+|style="border: 3px solid red"|{{flagicon|IND}} '''[[2023 SAFF Championship|2023]]'''||'''[[2023 SAFF Championship final|Champions]]'''||'''1st'''||'''5'''||'''2'''||'''3'''||'''0'''||'''8'''||'''2'''||'''[[2023 SAFF Championship#Squads|Squad]]'''||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold2023.html|title=South Asian Championship 2023 (Bangalore)|access-date=12 July 2023}}</ref>
+|-
+!'''Total'''!!'''8 Titles'''!!'''1st'''!!'''57'''!!'''36'''!!'''14'''!!'''7'''!!'''105'''!!'''36'''!!—!!—
+|}
+== Honours ==
+{{Further|India national football team records and statistics#Honours}}
+These are the following major honours won by India that are officially organised and recognized by FIFA, AFC and SAFF.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/history#:~:text=In%201924%2C%20the%20Indian%20team,a%20trip%20to%20Sri%20Lanka.&text=The%20All%20India%20Football%20Federation,at%20the%20Army%20Headquarters%2C%20Simla.|title=History|access-date=22 January 2022|website=the-aiff.com|archive-date=8 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200308124507/http://www.the-aiff.com/history#:~:text=In%201924%2C%20the%20Indian%20team,a%20trip%20to%20Sri%20Lanka.&text=The%20All%20India%20Football%20Federation,at%20the%20Army%20Headquarters%2C%20Simla.|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/indian-football-down-the-years-looking-back-at-the-glorious-moments|title=Indian football down the years looking back at the glorious moments|access-date=17 May 2023|archive-date=21 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921011335/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/indian-football-down-the-years-looking-back-at-the-glorious-moments|url-status=live}}</ref>
+=== [[FIFA]] ===
+*'''[[Football at the Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]'''
+**Fourth place: [[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/olympics.html|title=Football Tournament of the Olympic Games - Overview|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=26 July 2022|archive-date=11 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711203909/https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/olympics.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+=== [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] ===
+[[File:TeamInd.jpg|right|200px|thumb|alt=India national team in 2008.|Indian team celebrating their [[2008 AFC Challenge Cup]] victory]]
+*'''[[AFC Asian Cup]]'''
+**Runners-up: [[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asiachamp.html|title=Asian Nations Cup|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=26 July 2022|archive-date=25 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725142608/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asiachamp.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+*'''[[Football at the Asian Games|Asian Games]]'''
+**Gold medal: [[Football at the 1951 Asian Games|1951]], [[Football at the 1962 Asian Games|1962]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asia-games.html|title=Asian Games|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=26 July 2022|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161941/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asia-games.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+**Bronze medal: [[Football at the 1970 Asian Games|1970]]
+**Fourth place:[[Football at the 1958 Asian Games|1958]]
+*'''[[AFC Challenge Cup]]'''
+**Winners: [[2008 AFC Challenge Cup|2008]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/afc-emerging.html|title=AFC Challenge Cup|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=26 July 2022|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161733/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/afc-emerging.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+=== [[South Asian Football Federation|SAFF]] ===
+*'''[[SAFF Championship]]'''
+**Winners: [[1993 South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation Gold Cup|1993]], [[1997 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|1997]], [[1999 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|1999]], [[2005 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|2005]], [[2011 SAFF Championship|2011]], [[2015 SAFF Championship|2015]], [[2021 SAFF Championship|2021]], [[2023 SAFF Championship|2023]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffcup.html|title=South Asian Football Federation Cup|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=26 July 2022|archive-date=6 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006015433/https://rsssf.org/tabless/saffcup.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+**Runners-up: [[1995 South Asian Gold Cup|1995]], [[2008 SAFF Championship|2008]], [[2013 SAFF Championship|2013]], [[2018 SAFF Championship|2018]]
+**Third place: [[2003 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup|2003]]
+*'''[[Football at the South Asian Games|South Asian Games]]'''
+**Gold medal: [[Football at the 1985 South Asian Games|1985]], [[Football at the 1987 South Asian Games|1987]], [[Football at the 1995 South Asian Games|1995]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/safg.html|title=South Asian Federation Games|access-date=9 May 2023|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161733/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/safg.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+**Silver medal: [[Football at the 1993 South Asian Games|1993]]
+**Bronze medal: [[Football at the 1989 South Asian Games|1989]], [[Football at the 1999 South Asian Games|1999]]
+==Explanatory note==
+{{Notelist}}
+== See also ==
+* [[India national football team records and statistics]]
+== References ==
+{{reflist}}
+== External links ==
+* [https://www.the-aiff.com/ All India Football Federation] (official website)
+* {{Twitter|IndianFootball}}
+* {{Facebook|445396648884481/}}
+* [https://www.the-afc.com/en/south/india.html India] at [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]]
+* [https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/associations/IND India] at [[FIFA]]
+* [https://www.besoccer.com/team/india Team profile: India] at BeSoccer
+*[https://www.sportskeeda.com/team/indian-national-football-team Team overview] at Sportskeeda
-{{Sport-stub}}
+{{India national football team}}
+{{Asian Games football men's tournament winners}}
+{{AFC Challenge Cup winners}}
+{{Football in India}}
+{{AFC teams}}
+{{National sports teams of India}}
-[[Category:Asian national football teams]]
+{{DEFAULTSORT:India National Football Team}}
+[[Category:India national football team]]
 [[Category:Football in India]]
+[[Category:Asian national association football teams]]
+[[Category:1948 establishments in India]]