Indian football’s 2024 campaign was a stark reminder of how fragile progress in sports can be without sustained effort and vision. It was a year marked by a sharp decline in performances, administrative blunders, and a glaring lack of cohesion at every level. The men’s and women’s national teams stumbled from one failure to another, while controversies plagued the domestic circuit, casting a long shadow over the sport’s future. As the nation turns the page to 2025, the road to recovery appears steep and fraught with challenges.
Men’s Team in 2024: A Year of Disappointment and Decline
The men’s national team endured a catastrophic 2024, its worst year in over a decade. Under both outgoing coach Igor Štimac and his successor, the team struggled to find rhythm, creativity, or results. The statistics paint a grim picture: 11 matches, 6 losses, 5 draws, only 4 goals scored, and 15 conceded. For the first time since 2014, India failed to register a single victory in a calendar year.
The year began with a frustrating 1-2 defeat to Afghanistan in a FIFA World Cup qualifier and spiraled further during the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar. Facing formidable opponents like Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria, India crashed out of the group stages without scoring a single goal. The team managed a paltry five attempts on target across three games, underlining their offensive impotence. Failing to advance in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers compounded the humiliation.
The fallout was swift but messy. Igor Štimac was sacked after the Asian Cup debacle, though he claimed he had offered to resign. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) terminated his contract with a hefty severance payout. The team’s FIFA ranking plummeted from 102 at the start of the year to a dismal 126, underscoring their dire situation on the international stage.
Sunil Chhetri Retires: The End of an Era
2024 also marked the end of an illustrious era as Sunil Chhetri, the face of Indian football for nearly two decades, hung up his boots. His retirement has left an irreplaceable void in leadership and goal-scoring prowess.
Despite his advancing years, Chhetri remained one of the few bright spots in Indian football, scoring 8 goals in the Indian Super League (ISL). In contrast, domestic forwards struggled, with Manvir Singh being the only other Indian among the top 20 ISL goal scorers, managing just 3 goals. This alarming lack of depth and creativity highlights the urgent need for structural reforms and talent development.
Women’s Team in 2024: From Promise to Setback
Once viewed as India’s best chance for continental success, the women’s national team endured a turbulent 2024, plagued by leadership instability and off-field controversies. After Swedish coach Thomas Dennerby’s departure, AIFF experimented with Indian coaches, but the move backfired spectacularly.
The tenure of a coach from Kickstart FC drew criticism, with allegations of favoritism and coercion overshadowing her stint. These controversies left the team rudderless at a critical juncture. The lack of direction was evident in their performances, culminating in their lowest-ever FIFA ranking of 69. The team’s semi-final exit in the SAFF Women’s Championship, following a loss to Nepal, underscored their decline.
Domestic Chaos and Governance Issues
Indian domestic football was no less chaotic. AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey faced corruption allegations, accused of misusing federation funds for personal expenses. This eroded trust in the governing body and cast doubts on its ability to lead Indian football into the future.
The Anwar Ali transfer saga further highlighted the inefficiencies in domestic football administration. The defender’s unilateral termination of his loan deal with Mohun Bagan SG to join East Bengal led to a bitter legal battle. While AIFF initially penalized Anwar and East Bengal, the Delhi High Court eventually overturned the decision, exposing the federation’s lack of legal prudence.
Refereeing standards in the ISL also came under scrutiny, with widespread frustration over inconsistent decisions. AIFF’s claims of improving officiating were met with skepticism from players, coaches, and fans alike.
International Missteps
Indian clubs faced mixed fortunes in continental competitions, but the overarching narrative was one of underachievement. Odisha FC, the first Indian team to qualify for the AFC Women’s Champions League, suffered a humiliating 0-17 loss to Urawa Red Diamonds.
On the men’s side, Mohun Bagan SG’s withdrawal from the AFC Champions League II due to the Iran-Israel conflict nullified their results, while East Bengal showed promise in the AFC Challenge League but failed to deliver consistent performances.
A Year to Learn From
Indian football’s 2024 was a cautionary tale of squandered potential and systemic failures. The sharp decline in FIFA rankings, the loss of a generational talent like Sunil Chhetri, and the widespread administrative controversies have left the sport in turmoil.
To reverse this decline, Indian football must prioritize governance reform, invest in grassroots development, and build a sustainable vision for the future. The mistakes of 2024 offer valuable lessons, but the question remains: will Indian football seize the opportunity to learn and rebuild, or will it continue its downward spiral?
2025 presents a fresh slate, but it demands accountability, bold leadership, and unwavering commitment to change. The nation’s footballing aspirations depend on it.