The year 2024 will be remembered as one of the most challenging chapters in the history of Indian football. The sport found itself mired in a state of severe decline, grappling with an unprecedented administrative crisis, financial instability, and a worrying drop in the performance of its flagship senior men's national team.
A Perfect Storm of Failures
The problems were multifaceted and deep-rooted. The most visible blow came on the pitch, where the Indian senior men's team suffered a humiliating 1-0 defeat to Bangladesh in Dhaka during an AFC Asian Cup qualifier in November. The winning goal, scored by Sheikh Morsalin in the 11th minute, marked India's first loss to its neighbor in 22 years. This was not an isolated incident; the team also fell to lower-ranked sides like Hong Kong and Singapore, ultimately failing to qualify for the Asian Cup for the first time since 2011 and sliding down the FIFA rankings.
Off the field, the situation was equally dire. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) failed to secure a new commercial partner for the Indian Super League (ISL) after its contract with Reliance-owned Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) expired on December 8. This failure had a crippling domino effect: the ISL season, which should have been in its third month, remains suspended. Clubs have halted operations, sponsors are withdrawing, and players face an uncertain future, highlighting a systemic failure of governance and long-term planning.
Administrative Chaos and High-Profile Interventions
The crisis spilled into courtrooms and even reached the highest offices of the country. The year was marked by frequent hearings at the Supreme Court, which in September approved a draft AIFF constitution prepared by former judge L Nageswara Rao. Despite this, a lasting resolution remained elusive. The union sports ministry intervened, and the severity of the situation was underscored when President Droupadi Murmu publicly appealed to all stakeholders to work together for the sport's upliftment.
Amid this gloom, the high-profile Lionel Messi GOAT India Tour generated fleeting excitement. However, its chaotic start at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium—the 'Mecca of Indian football'—only added to the embarrassment. While the subsequent legs in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi were well-organized, the tour was never meant to be a catalyst for solving Indian football's deep-seated issues.
Beacons of Hope: Women's and Junior Teams Shine
In stark contrast to the men's senior team's struggles, the women's and junior squads provided the year's most inspiring moments. In a historic achievement in July, the Indian women's team won a tournament in Chiang Mai, Thailand, defeating hosts Thailand in the final with a brilliant brace from Sangita Basfore. This victory secured direct qualification for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026, a first for the country.
Furthermore, East Bengal FC made history by becoming the first Indian club to win a main-draw match in the AFC Women's Champions League, earning a direct spot in the next edition's league stage. Among the juniors, the Indian U-17 team won its seventh SAFF Championship title in Sri Lanka and then produced a stunning 2-1 victory over continental giants Iran to qualify for the U-17 Asian Cup finals for the 10th time.
These successes, achieved under coach Bibiano Fernandes, offer a glimmer of hope and validate the belief that the Indian women's team might reach a FIFA World Cup before their male counterparts. As the year closes, Indian football stands at a critical crossroads, burdened by institutional failure but also buoyed by the promise of its rising female and youth talents.
