There is a strange silence around Indian football right now, following a heartbreak so familiar that it no longer surprises anyone. The floodlights at the Fatorda Stadium went out, the chants faded and with them India’s hopes of playing in the next AFC Asian Cup. Defeat to Singapore, a nation ranked far below India, sealed that fate and another qualifying campaign ended in disappointment.
Nothing for the next two years. No major tournament, no qualifying campaign, no plan of significance. Just emptiness. But in that void lies perhaps the biggest opportunity Indian football has had in decades – a chance to finally rebuild something real. Khalid Jamil, now the man in charge, and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) stand on the edge of this opportunity, tasked with turning two empty years into the foundation of a future that has for too long been just a slogan, a dream without a plan.
No more coaching carousel
The blame game has to end if Indian football is to move forward. The cycle of firing coaches and expecting instant miracles led the team nowhere. In appointing Khalid Jamil, the AIFF made a rare decision rooted in logic rather than glamour. They chose a man who knows Indian football inside out – its players, its infrastructure and its shortcomings.
Jamil’s stint at the CAFA Nations Cup earlier this year he proved what he brings to the table. Against sides like Iran, Tajikistan and Oman, India showed structure, discipline and purpose. The bronze medal was no fluke but a statement that with the right support, Indian football can compete.
If Jamil was selected over a pool of foreign applicants, it was because of his connection to the system. To turn away from him now would only repeat old mistakes. He needs time, stability and freedom to rebuild from the ground up – something no Indian coach has really been given.
Time for the next generation
The Under-23 Asia Cup qualifiers were a rare reminder that the next generation of Indian football has potential worth believing in. The performances of Mohammed Suhail, Muhammed Aimen and Vibin Mohanan didn’t just thrill the fans; they indicated a changing tide. These players were not afraid of reputation or position – they played with clarity and confidence even against a strong Qatari side.
Jamil has already shown his intent by including some of these names in his probabilities ahead of the Singapore games. But the next step must be deeper and more thoughtful. India cannot afford to keep relying on the same household names who have failed to take the team forward. The next era must be built on young shoulders and these shoulders must be trusted with responsibility.
If the next two years are used to integrate and develop this U23 core, India will at least emerge with direction, something that has been missing for far too long.
First the country, then the club
Even before the Singapore games, the rifts between the ISL clubs and the national team line-up were evident. Players were not released on time for national duty and Jamil’s training camp had to be cut short as several key names joined late. The absence of veterans like Sunil Chhetri pointed to the same old tug-of-war of clubs protecting their priorities while the national team suffered.
It is not a new matter. Teams like Mohun Bagan Super Giant repeatedly delayed the release of players, undermining the country’s international ambitions. This disconnect between club and country remains one of the most damaging realities of Indian football.
If the AIFF is serious about change, they need to create a structure where national camps are respected and FIFA windows are respected. Without synchronization between the ISL and the national calendar, even the most talented coach would be fighting a losing battle.
Time to move on from Chhetri
Something is fundamentally wrong when a 41-year-old striker, well past his prime, has to be called out of retirement to fix the national team’s attacking crisis. This decision speaks not of loyalty, but of stagnation.
Yes, Sunil Chhetri has scored more than 90 goals and remains one of the best strikers ever to play for India. His contribution to Indian football is immense and unquestionable. But the future cannot be built on nostalgia alone. The problem is not that India lack young strikers; it’s that the system refuses to trust or develop them.
To his credit, Jamil started to eschew that dependency earlier this year when he led India to the CAFA Nations Cup bronze without calling on Chhetri. The message was clear: Indian football must learn to stand on its own two feet. This transition must continue, no matter how uncomfortable it may be, because the focus must now be on what lies ahead, not just on history.
Refocus the AIFF
In recent years, the AIFF’s reputation has been shaped by lawsuits and controversies rather than football itself. From Asian Games squad confusion to public spats with coaches and constant instability around domestic leagues, the governing body has been a constant distraction rather than a source of direction. India’s AFC Asian Cup dreams end in disappointment (AIFF Photo)
When players have to issue statements on social media expressing uncertainty about their future, it reflects a system in disarray. The federation cannot expect progress when its center of gravity is divided between administrative chaos and legal battles.
The next two years must be about football, not politics. Fix your home calendar. Resolve ISL-I-League disputes. Create clear pathways from the academies to the national team. Everything else is noise.
Two years to prove a point
For once, the absence of tournaments may actually be a blessing. With two gap years ahead, Indian football finally has the space to pause, plan and build without pressure. It is a window that Jamil and the AIFF cannot afford to miss.
The last two decades have been filled with slogans about visions, plans and dreams that never materialized. Now is the chance to turn words into work, to use silence as a foundation, not emptiness.
Because Indian football doesn’t need another promise. It takes a process. And these two years may just be the last chance to start.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
October 17, 2025
