India national football team

FIFA rankingCurrent 138 (20 July 2026)Highest94 (February 1996)Lowest173 (March 2015)First internationalPre-independence:
Australia 5–3 India
(Sydney, Australia; 3 September 1938)
Post-independence:
India 1–2 France
(London, England; 31 July 1948)Biggest winIndia 7–0 Sri Lanka
(Bengaluru, India; 7 December 1963)Biggest defeatSoviet Union 11–1 India
(Moscow, Soviet Union; 16 September 1955)Olympic GamesAppearances4 (first in 1948)Best resultFourth place (1956)Asian CupAppearances5 (first in 1964)Best result Runners-up (1964)Asian GamesAppearances11 (first in 1951)Best resultGold medal
(1951, 1962)CAFA Nations Cup (as guests)Appearances1 (first in 2025)Best result Third place (2025)SAFF ChampionshipAppearances14 (first in 1993)Best resultWinners (1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2011, 2015, 2021, 2023)Websitewww.the-aiff.com

The India national football team represents India in international football and is governed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and is under the global jurisdiction of FIFA. It is governed in Asia by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and in South Asia by South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) — both of which were co-founded by the AIFF.

During the 1950s and early 1960s, under the coaching of Syed Abdul Rahim, India won the gold medal at the 1951 and 1962Asian Games while finishing fourth at the 1956Summer Olympics. India has never participated in the FIFA World Cup, although they did qualify by default for the 1950 World Cup after all other nations in their qualification group withdrew. However, India withdrew prior to the beginning of the tournament. The team has also appeared five times in the AFC Asian Cup, Asia's top football championship and finished as runners-up in 1964. India also participates in the SAFF Championship, the top regional football competition in South Asia. They have won the tournament record eight times since its inception in 1993.

In the 21st century, besides the SAFF Championship triumphs, under the guidance of Bob Houghton, India won the Nehru Cup in 2007, 2009 and the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup. The Challenge Cup victory allowed India to once again qualify for the Asian Cup after 27 years from 1984.