The year 2025 has been another rollercoaster for Indian football, marked by familiar struggles despite changes in leadership and structure. Hopes for a turnaround remain, but tangible progress on the field has been elusive.
Coaching Carousel Continues
Manolo Marquez, who took over as head coach in July 2024 while also managing FC Goa, parted ways with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in July 2025. Marquez's tenure saw only one win in eight matches, a 3-0 victory against the Maldives in March 2025 that broke a long 489-day winless streak for the Blue Tigers. However, losses to Thailand and Hong Kong in Asian Cup qualifying rounds contributed to his departure.
Khalid Jamil, former East Bengal and Mohun Bagan manager, was appointed as the new head coach in August 2025, becoming the first Indian head coach since Savio Medeira's brief stint in 2011-2012. Jamil, known for his tactical acumen and success with limited resources, was named AIFF Coach of the Year for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Budgetary concerns also influenced the AIFF's decision to appoint Jamil.
Jamil's first assignment was the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 in Uzbekistan. India finished third in the tournament, securing a 2-1 victory over Tajikistan (their first in 17 years) and a penalty shootout win against Oman (their first in 31 years) in the third-place match. However, they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Iran.
FIFA Ranking Woes
India's FIFA ranking has reflected the team's struggles. After reaching a high of 94 in February 1996, the team's ranking has fluctuated significantly. In July 2025, India's ranking fell to 133, its lowest in nine years, following losses in June. By November 2025, the team further slipped to 142, the lowest since September 2016, after a challenging run in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers under Jamil. Despite a strong showing in the CAFA Nations Cup, India dropped to 134 in the September 2025 rankings. As of November 19, 2025, India stands at 142 in the FIFA rankings.
Domestic Structure in Flux
Off the field, Indian football faced uncertainty regarding its domestic structure. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya assured stakeholders that the No. 1 league would commence in the 2025-26 season. However, Indian Super League (ISL) clubs have raised concerns about a domestic football crisis due to the expiration of the Marketing Rights Agreement, leading to a halt in central revenue and withdrawal of local sponsors. The clubs have appealed to the AIFF and filed an Interim Application with the Supreme Court to address these issues. The AIFF has responded by saying they would forward the concerns to the Ministry of Sports and engage KPMG to develop solutions, including a possible re-tender.
Looking Ahead
Despite the challenges, there are glimmers of hope. Khalid Jamil's appointment signals a potential shift towards prioritizing domestic coaches. The U-17 Women's World Cup 2025 is set to take place in India. East Bengal and FC Goa are set to compete in the AIFF Super Cup final. The AIFF Super Cup champions East Bengal beat Punjab FC 3-1 to advance to the final. However, significant systemic changes are needed to address the underlying issues plaguing Indian football. The AIFF needs investors who want to have a bigger say in how the sport is run. Unless these fundamental problems are addressed, Indian football risks remaining in a state of perennial disappointment, regardless of who is at the helm.
