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India national football team

The India national football team represents India in men's international association football and is governed by the All India Football Federation.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The India national football team represents India in men's international association football and is governed by the All India Football Federation. Known as the Blue Tigers, the team competes under FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and the South Asian Football Federation.

History

The team has been active in international football since the pre-independence era and is associated with a notable period of success in the 1950s and early 1960s. Sources note that this era included strong performances under coach Syed Abdul Rahim.

Competitive record

India has taken part in major Asian and regional competitions, including the AFC Asian Cup and the SAFF Championship. The team has also been credited with a runner-up finish at the 1964 AFC Asian Cup.

Players and leadership

Sunil Chhetri is the team's all-time leader in caps and goals in the available source data. The current captain listed in the provided results is Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

Governing body

The team is controlled by the All India Football Federation, which oversees Indian football. The AIFF is the national association linked to FIFA and the AFC.

Key facts

  • India's men's national team is administered by the AIFF and represents the country in international football.
  • The team is affiliated with FIFA and is part of the AFC and SAFF.
  • Its nickname is the Blue Tigers.
  • Sunil Chhetri is the team's record holder for both appearances and goals.
  • India finished as runner-up at the 1964 AFC Asian Cup.
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Canadian context

The team is of interest to Canadian readers through international football coverage, the global South Asian diaspora, and matches involving FIFA and AFC competitions.

Frequently asked questions

What is the India national football team?
It is India's men's national association football team, representing the country in international matches.
Who runs the team?
The team is governed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
What is India's nickname in football?
The team is commonly called the Blue Tigers.
Who has the most caps for India?
Sunil Chhetri is listed as India's most capped player, with 157 appearances.
Who is India's all-time top scorer?
Sunil Chhetri is listed as India's top scorer, with 95 goals.
What is India's best-known continental result?
India finished as runner-up at the 1964 AFC Asian Cup.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_national_football_team
    Supports: Nickname, governing body, confederation, captain, most caps, top scorer, and general team overview.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_in_India
    Supports: AIFF governance, FIFA affiliation, AFC membership, and broader context of football in India.
  3. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/soccer/team/_/id/4385/india
    Supports: Current team page and competition context.
  4. Wikipedia (Spanish) — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selecci%C3%B3n_de_f%C3%BAtbol_de_India
    Supports: 1964 AFC Asian Cup runner-up result and historical context.