New Delhi, July 19 (IANS) Former general secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Shaji Prabhakaran believes that India’s failure to qualify for a FIFA World Cup is not because of a lack of talent, population or potential, but because the country’s football ecosystem has not worked collectively and consistently enough towards that goal. Speaking exclusively to IANS about the reasons behind India’s prolonged absence from football’s biggest stage, Prabhakaran called for greater unity,…
Latest All India Football Federation News & Updates
New Delhi, July 19 (IANS) Ahead of the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, former All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran backed Lionel Messi’s enduring influence on the reigning champions, describing the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner as the team’s “driving force” and “uniting force”. Speaking exclusively to IANS on Messi’s legacy, Argentina’s evolution and the criticism surrounding the South American giants during the tournament, Prabhakaran said t…
New Delhi, July 19 (IANS) The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina is much more than a contest to crown the world’s best football team, according to the former general secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), who believes the summit clash represents the sport’s unparalleled ability to unite people, cultures and nations while creating an impact that extends far beyond the field. Speaking exclusively to IANS ahead of the FIFA WC showdown, Prabhakaran said the tournam…
New Delhi, July 17 (IANS) The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has invited applications from retired footballers for inclusion in its Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) roster, a key step in implementing the National Sports Governance Act that the federation adopted during its Special General Body Meeting in May. Under the new rules, the AIFF will create separate rosters of 20 male and 20 female Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit. From these, at least four voting members – two men and …
New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) The Indian men’s national football team will travel to New Zealand for two friendly matches against the hosts on November 12 and 15, during the FIFA International Match Window, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced on Saturday.The matches were announced as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to New Zealand and will form part of a series of sporting events to celebrate ‘100 Years of Unity Through Sport’ between the two nations.India and New …
New Delhi, July 8 (IANS) The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Indian Super League (ISL) Managing Committee on Wednesday announced a significant restructuring of the league’s operational framework, with the clubs set to assume control of the competition’s commercial rights while the national federation retains administrative oversight and regulatory responsibilities.The announcement was made at a joint press conference attended by AIFF Deputy Secretary General M. Satyanarayan, Head of…
Mohali, June 30 (IANS) Punjab FC have signed star midfielder and Real Kashmir FC captain Mohammad Inam on a two-year contract, with the deal set to keep the player at the club until May 31, 2028.The Jammu & Kashmir native joins the Shers from Real Kashmir FC, where he captained the side during the 2025-26 Indian Football League (IFL) season. Across two spells with the Srinagar-based outfit, Inam made 53 appearances, scoring six goals and providing two assists.Born and raised in Srinagar, Ina…
New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) Former All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran has urged India to transform its periodic FIFA World Cup enthusiasm into a sustained movement for football development, saying the country must celebrate the sport throughout the year rather than only during the multinational event every four years. In a column ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Prabhakaran said football becomes hugely popular in India every four years, but much of that intere…
Shillong, May 31 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Raksha Khadse, visited NorthEast United FC and interacted with the club’s management, coaching staff and young footballers, appreciating the club’s efforts towards identifying and nurturing football talent from across the country, particularly from the North East region. The visit was attended by Mandar Tamhane, Chief Executive Officer, NorthEast United FC; Rohit Thorat; Naushad Moosa, technical director and rese…
New Delhi, May 26 (IANS) The Indian football team has completed their 22-member squad for the Unity Cup 2026 in London after four additional players were drafted into the team ahead of the semifinal clash against Jamaica.The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced that midfielder Macarton Nickson and defender Nikhil Barla joined the squad in London on Tuesday afternoon, while forwards Mohammed Sanan and Vikram Partap Singh are expected to arrive on Wednesday morning.India will face Jamaic…