All posts tagged: football in India

How Kolkata Derby could decide ISL 2025-26 title race?

How Kolkata Derby could decide ISL 2025-26 title race?

Published by Webster

The 2025-26 Indian Super League season is heading towards a dramatic finish. Usually, by the final week of the ISL season, the points table gives a fairly clear indication of who is likely to lift the title. But this season has been anything but predictable. With the league set to conclude on May 21, as many as seven teams, from current table toppers East Bengal FC to seventh-placed Mumbai City FC, remain mathematically in contention for the league title. The ISL follows a single-leg round-robin format this season, where all 14 teams play each other once. Unlike previous editions, there are no playoffs or knockout rounds this year, meaning the team finishing at the top of the table after 91 matches will be crowned champions. And because of that format, every remaining match suddenly feels like a final. Here’s a look at what each of the seven teams needs to do to win the ISL title: East Bengal Points: 22 from 11 matches | Goal Difference: +18 East Bengal FC currently sit at the top …

League stripped to bare bones but fans, players find solace in end of uncertainty

League stripped to bare bones but fans, players find solace in end of uncertainty

Published by Webster

3 min readNew DelhiFeb 13, 2026 10:53 PM IST The Indian Super League (ISL) makes its much-delayed return on Saturday. In the five months since its usual start-time of September, uncertainty swirled to the extent that murmurs persisted that it would never return. But stripped down to bare bones — in some cases not even that —  the league makes a subdued start as defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giants take on Kerala Blasters in Kolkata. It will be one of two matches to be played on the opening day, the other being FC Goa against the newly promoted Inter Kashi at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa. In the days leading up to this, the ISL went into a coma that was brought about by failures in various boardrooms. At the same time, though, a sizeable section of those involved — fans, players, coaches — are just happy that something is happening. “I know there were a lot of problems. It was a very difficult time for Indian football,” said Mohun Bagan coach Sergio Lobera. …

Football and tennis in focus as Sports Ministry considers lifting ban on OCI athletes

Football and tennis in focus as Sports Ministry considers lifting ban on OCI athletes

Published by Webster

The Indian Sports Ministry is considering a potential revocation of the long-standing ban on Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card-holders representing the country in international sports. Introduced in 2008, the current regulation allows only Indian passport-holders to officially play for the nation. This possible policy shift comes amid concerns over India’s lack of progress in sports like football and tennis, where overseas-based athletes of Indian origin have often been unable to contribute due to passport restrictions, as per PTI. The idea behind reconsidering the ban is to strengthen India’s sporting ecosystem by opening the doors for more global talent with Indian roots. The proposal is still in its early stages. According to a ministry official, any change would require extensive discussions between all involved stakeholders and is likely to be a gradual process. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has shown particular interest in the move, even though there are currently no high-profile OCI players ready to be drafted into the national team. The aim is more long-term — to ensure that promising footballers of …

A red card for the Indian Super League? Here’s what’s at stake for Indian Football

A red card for the Indian Super League? Here’s what’s at stake for Indian Football

Published by Webster

Every time the Indian Super League (ISL) is mentioned, the question often emerges if it’s truly improving the national team and helping the cause of Indian football at large. Sure, on paper, the progress isn’t as rapid as fans might have hoped for, but let us not forget where we’ve come from. And yes, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) may bear some responsibility for that. While the debate about the league’s impact on the national team’s performance lingers, there is no denying the significant changes it has brought to the financial landscape of football in India. And while endless shortcomings and challenges could well be listed, one thing is clear – the ISL has provided stability, opportunities, and growth for a sector that was once neglected. The future of Indian football is currently caught in a legal battle playing out in the Supreme Court of India, centred around the AIFF constitution. In 2022, following years of delayed elections, governance concerns, and alleged violations of the National Sports Code, the Supreme Court stepped in and …

What forced Sunil Chhetri’s retirement u-turn?

What forced Sunil Chhetri’s retirement u-turn?

Published by Webster

So, who is after Chhetri for Indian football? Surprise… It’s still Sunil Chhetri. The Captain. Leader. Legend. Seeing India’s struggles in the final third, he took matters into his own hands. In the past year, India played 11 matches, including the Asian Cup qualifiers, scoring just four goals. Football may be low-scoring, but India’s form suggests it’s no-scoring. Coach Manolo Márquez emphasized the importance of Chhetri’s return, saying, “Qualifying for the Asian Cup is vital. I discussed with Sunil about making a comeback.” But is this the right move? Goal drought or Striker drought Truth is, it’s both—one causes the other. India has long searched for Chhetri’s successor, but no one has consistently stepped up. When the foreign-player quota in ISL’s starting XI dropped from five to four in 2021-22, the expectation was a greater influx of Indian talent—and while that did happen, strikers remained as rare as hen’s teeth. Before the rule change, foreigners accounted for 80% of all ISL goals. While Indians now contribute about a third of ISL goals, the expectation of …

A bigger, more competitive season over the horizon

A bigger, more competitive season over the horizon

Published by Webster

The much-anticipated Indian Women’s League (IWL) 2024-25 is set to kick off on January 10, 2025, marking the start of another thrilling chapter in Indian women’s football. The league is expanding with eight teams this season after two teams were promoted from the inaugural IWL 2 season. Fans can expect a highly competitive tournament with 56 matches taking place across the country over the next three months. These fixtures will not only determine the national champion but also offer the victorious team a golden opportunity to represent India at the 2025-26 AFC Women’s Champions League. Defending Champions Odisha FC: Can they keep the momentum going? Odisha FC Women made history last season by clinching their maiden IWL trophy, breaking Gokulam Kerala FC’s long-standing dominance. Under head coach Crispin Chettri, they finished the 2023-24 season as champions, marking an impressive start for the club, which was only founded in 2022. This season, however, the Kalinga Warriors are facing a new challenge, as several key players have moved on, making way for a younger, fresher squad. Despite …

‘We need fans in the stadium, not just when we’re winning’: Juan Pedro Benali

‘We need fans in the stadium, not just when we’re winning’: Juan Pedro Benali

Published by Webster

The Indian Super League (ISL) has grown by leaps and bounds but the enthusiasm for attending matches has seen a slow but steady decline, barring a few clubs. Just last week, FC Goa drastically slashed ticket prices, hoping to entice fans back to the stands, a stark sign of the need to rekindle fan engagement in the beautiful game. Amidst this scenario, NorthEast United FC’s head coach Juan Pedro Benali has a clear message for fans: “Come to the stadium and support your team.” As the driving force behind the squad’s recent resurgence, the coach is passionate about bringing fans back to the heart of the game. In an exclusive interview with The Bridge, the charismatic coach discussed everything from stadium atmosphere, player development, and mentorship, to the potential of Indian football. Bringing back the fans “The biggest challenge is the absence of fans in the stadium,” Benali admitted, reflecting on the current state of Indian football. “We have so many fans on social media but we need them at the stadiums, not just online. …