Indian Football Faces Setback in Continental Competition
Indian football has hit another low after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced a reduction in the country’s club competition slots for the upcoming 2027-28 season. India is now left with just one playoff spot in the AFC Challenge League, which is the third and lowest tier of Asian club football.
A former football official expressed disbelief at this move, stating that it reflects the ongoing decline of football in India. “It’s shocking to see our teams drop from playing in the top division ACL to now competing in the third tier against countries like Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan,” he shared with PTI.
Notably, this new playoff slot means Indian clubs won’t even qualify directly for the league’s group stage, which has left many in the football community concerned about the future of the sport in the country. Just a few years ago, Indian clubs were part of the prestigious AFC Champions League and later the ACL2.
To provide some context, India will still have two ACL2 playoff spots in the 2026-27 season, with ISL champions East Bengal and Super Cup winners FC Goa set to represent the country. However, starting in 2027-28, Indian teams will need to compete hard to enter the AFC Challenge League.
Reasons for the Downgrade
The AFC’s club competition slots are assigned based on the Member Association Rankings, which take into account factors such as:
- Quality of the domestic league
- Club licensing
- Stadium facilities
- Governance standards
- Competition structure
- Performance in continental competitions
One significant factor leading to India’s downgrade was the structure of the recently concluded ISL season. The AFC requires leagues aiming for ACL spots to have:
- A domestic season of at least eight months
- A proper home-and-away format
- Clubs playing a minimum of 24 matches across various competitions
Unfortunately, the 2025-26 ISL season was notably shortened, with clubs only participating in 13 matches and failing to meet the home-and-away format criteria. Ironically, the shortened season only met the minimum requirements for entering the AFC Challenge League, where India has now been demoted.
Additionally, India’s declining performance in continental tournaments has played a major role in this downgrade, resulting in a drop in the AFC West region ranking from 10th to 15th.
Implications for Indian Football
This downgrade could lead to serious long-term issues for both Indian clubs and the ISL. Continental competitions have historically attracted foreign players, coaches, and investors. However, the prospect of facing lesser-known teams from South Asia rather than Asia’s top clubs may deter this interest.
The timing of this announcement also complicates matters for Indian football, which is already dealing with uncertainties related to the future of the ISL, licensing issues, and governance challenges. Recently, several clubs, including Mohun Bagan, Kerala Blasters, and Odisha FC, had their Premier 1 licenses rejected by the AIFF Club Licensing Committee.
For many, the AFC’s recent decision indicates that the ongoing instability within Indian football is beginning to affect its reputation on the continental stage.
