AIFF has expressed disappointment over the Indian football team not playing in the 2026 Asian Games. Poor infrastructure and legal disputes were cited as the reasons. Additionally, a club-led commercial model was announced for the ISL, in which clubs would receive commercial rights.
New Delhi [भारत]July 8 (ANI): All India Football Federation (AIFF) deputy secretary general M Satyanarayana has expressed disappointment over the Indian men’s football team’s exclusion from the 2026 Asian Games to be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4. The Indian men’s football team will not participate in the 2026 Asian Games after failing to meet the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports’ selection criteria, which requires teams to be ranked in the top eight in Asia.
Speaking to ANI, the AIFF Deputy Secretary General expressed disappointment over India’s absence from the continental games, saying many Asian countries are ahead due to better infrastructure, training and quality of players. He also said that long-running legal disputes have hindered the progress of Indian football. He said, “We are disappointed that we are not in the Asian Games. However, there are 47 countries in Asia, and at least 15 of them are ahead of us because they have better infrastructure, higher quality training and stronger players. More than half the time we are stuck in court cases and related issues. Hopefully, this will not happen in the future because of the new Governance Act.”
New club-led model for ISL
The AIFF and the Managing Committee of the Indian Super League (ISL), represented by FC Goa, NorthEast United FC and Sporting Club Delhi, held a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday. The press conference was addressed by M Satyanarayana, AIFF head of competitions Akshay Rohatgi, FC Goa CEO Ravi Puskur, NorthEast United FC CEO Mandar Tamhane and Sporting Club Delhi CEO Dhruv Sood. It was announced that the clubs would hold the commercial rights of the Indian Super League going forward, while the AIFF would maintain administrative control and oversee key operational aspects. This marks a move towards a club-led commercial model, which is becoming more common globally.
“On our part, we are very committed to making this league one of the best leagues in Asia. We are also keeping in mind the recent Supreme Court order and the new National Sports Governance Act,” Satyanarayana said.
Sood agreed, saying, “In the first season of SC Delhi, the ministry came forward and extended its full support to the league with regard to the availability of stadiums. The AIFF also tried its best to reduce the cost of the league.”
Elaborating on the new season, Tamhane said, “It will be a broadcast-driven model. We are moving towards a club-led model because both the club and the AIFF believe that this is the right way forward from a long-term commercial and financial sustainability perspective.” Subsequently, the Club/Managing Committee will issue an RFP (Request for Proposal) to secure a broadcast partner and work on sponsorship. The AIFF will send a letter to all 14 clubs to confirm their participation.
The 2026-27 season will be held in home-and-away format.
The 2026–27 season will be held in a home-and-away format. “We will have a full season where every team will get their full quota of home and away games instead of playing in a shortened format. We look forward to working closely with the AIFF to make the league as successful as possible,” Pushkur said.
Discussion on availability of players for the national team
The league calendar will be planned around the FIFA Men’s International match windows (scheduled for September, October, November and March) and AFC club competition schedules to ensure the best possible preparation for the national team as well as the clubs participating in continental competitions (FC Goa and East Bengal FC).
On the subject of clubs releasing players for the national team, Satyanarayana said, “We have already had several rounds of discussions with the clubs and requested them to release players for a longer period in the ‘national interest’. The sooner we move forward with this process, the better we can plan the scheduling. We hope this will happen with the cooperation of the clubs, especially as the league is now jointly run by the clubs and the AIFF.” (ANI)
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