Indian Football Team Concludes Season with Disappointing Draw Against Tajikistan
Indian Football Team's Season Finale
The Indian national football team wrapped up their 2025-26 season with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Tajikistan at Hisor Central Stadium on June 9. This result meant that the team ended the May-June international window without a single victory, managing only one win since September of the previous year. The Blue Tigers seemed poised for a rare victory when Vikram Pratap Singh took advantage of a mistake by Tajik goalkeeper Rustam Yatimov in the 25th minute, scoring from close range after Yatimov failed to secure a free kick. India went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
However, the lead slipped away in the 85th minute when Sheriddin Boboev converted a penalty for the hosts, leveling the match. Despite seven additional minutes of play, neither team could find the back of the net again.
India's Struggles During the International Break
Following the conclusion of the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season, India played four matches during this international break but failed to secure any wins. Nonetheless, the draw against Tajikistan ended a three-match losing streak. This match was the second encounter in a week between the two teams, with Tajikistan having won the first match 3-1 on June 5.
Earlier, the Indian squad traveled to England for the 2026 Unity Cup, marking their first competitive match there in 24 years. Unfortunately, they lost both matches, falling 2-0 to Jamaica in the semi-finals and 1-0 to Zimbabwe in the third-place playoff.
Khalid Jamil Under Pressure?
After a promising start with a third-place finish in the CAFA Nations Cup, the Indian team has struggled to achieve favorable results under coach Khalid Jamil. In his tenure, the team has played 11 matches, winning only three—two in regular time and one via penalties. The only victory since the CAFA was against Hong Kong in a non-competitive match for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifications.
Jamil took over during the qualification campaign, but early defeats to Singapore and Bangladesh resulted in the team failing to qualify for the expanded 24-team mega event for the first time. Compounding his challenges, seven players from Mohun Bagan were unavailable for the national camp during these last four matches, a situation that also affected the CAFA Nations Cup. Additionally, he inherited a team already in jeopardy of Asian Cup qualification, and India's world ranking is expected to drop further from its current position of 136.
Upcoming Matches for India
While there is no official announcement regarding India's next match, it is anticipated to occur during the September international break. The team is likely gearing up for the SAFF Championships in November. Competitive fixtures will be sparse until mid-2027, when the qualification rounds for the 2030 FIFA World Cup and the 2031 AFC Asian Cup commence.