Two empty years, one last chance: Indian football's pause could spark overdue revival

There's a strange kind of silence around Indian football right now, the kind that follows a heartbreak so familiar it no longer surprises anyone. The floodlights at the Fatorda Stadium have dimmed, the chants have faded, and with them, India's hopes of playing at the next AFC Asian Cup. A defeat to Singapore, a nation ranked well below India, sealed that fate, ending yet another qualifying campaign in disappointment.

For the next two years, there's nothing. No major tournament, no qualifying campaign, no roadmap of meaning. Just a void. But within that emptiness lies perhaps the biggest opportunity Indian football has had in decades—a chance to finally rebuild something real. Khalid Jamil, now the man in charge, and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) stand at the edge of that opportunity, tasked with turning two empty years into the foundation of a future that has for too long been only a slogan, a dream without a plan.

No more coach merry-go-round

If Indian football is to move forward, the blame game must end. The cycle of sacking coaches and expecting instant miracles has led the team nowhere. In appointing Khalid Jamil, the AIFF made a rare decision rooted in logic rather than glamour. They chose a man who knows Indian football inside out - its players, its infrastructure, and its flaws.

Jamil's work at the CAFA Nations Cup earlier this year proved what he brings to the table. Against sides like Iran, Tajikistan and Oman, India showed structure, discipline and intent. The bronze medal was not a stroke of luck but a statement that, with the right backing, Indian football can compete.

If Jamil was picked over a pool of foreign applicants, it was because of his connection to the system. To turn away from him now would only repeat old mistakes. What he needs is time, stability and the freedom to rebuild from the ground up—something no Indian coach has truly been given.

Time for the next generation

The U23 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers were a rare reminder that Indian football's next generation carries potential worth believing in. The performances of Mohammed Suhail, Muhammed Aimen, and Vibin Mohanan didn't just excite fans; they hinted at a changing tide. These players weren't afraid of reputation or ranking - they played with clarity and confidence even against a strong Qatar side.

Jamil has already shown intent by including some of these names in his probables ahead of the Singapore fixtures. But the next step must be deeper and more deliberate. India cannot afford to keep leaning on the same familiar names who have failed to take the team forward. The next era must be built on young shoulders, and those shoulders must be trusted with responsibility.

If the next two years are used to integrate and develop this U23 core, India will at least emerge with direction, something that's been missing for far too long.

Country first, club next

Even before the Singapore fixtures, the cracks between ISL clubs and the national team setup were obvious. Players weren't released on time for national duty, and Jamil's preparatory camp had to be cut short as several key names joined late. The absence of veterans like Sunil Chhetri highlighted the same old tug-of-war, with clubs protecting their priorities while the national team suffered.

It's not a new issue. Teams like Mohun Bagan Super Giant have repeatedly delayed player releases, undermining the country's international ambitions. This disconnect between club and country remains one of Indian football's most damaging realities.

If the AIFF is serious about change, it must create a structure where national camps are respected and FIFA windows are honored. Without synchronisation between the ISL and the national calendar, even the most talented coach would be fighting a losing battle.

Time to move on from Chhetri

There's something fundamentally wrong when a 41-year-old striker, long past his prime, has to be called out of retirement to fix a national team's attacking crisis. That decision speaks not of loyalty, but of stagnation.

Yes, Sunil Chhetri has scored more than 90 goals and remains one of the best strikers to have ever played for India. His contribution to Indian football is immense and unquestionable. But the future cannot be built on nostalgia alone. The issue isn't that India lacks young strikers; it's that the system refuses to trust or develop them.

To his credit, Jamil began steering away from this dependency earlier this year when he led India to a CAFA Nations Cup bronze without calling up Chhetri. The message was clear: Indian football must learn to stand on its own two feet. That transition must continue, no matter how uncomfortable it may be, because the focus now must be on what lies ahead, not only on history.

Refocus the AIFF

The AIFF's reputation in recent years has been shaped more by court cases and controversies than football itself. From confusion over the Asian Games squad to public fallouts with coaches and the constant instability surrounding domestic leagues, the governing body has been a constant distraction rather than a source of direction.

When players have to issue social media statements expressing uncertainty about their future, it reflects a system in disarray. The federation cannot expect progress when its focus is divided between administrative chaos and legal battles.

The next two years must be about football, not politics. Fix the domestic calendar. Resolve the ISL-I-League disputes. Establish clear pathways from academies to the national team. Everything else is noise.

Two Years to Prove a Point

For once, the absence of tournaments might actually be a blessing. With two blank years ahead, Indian football finally has the space to pause, plan and build without pressure. It's a window that Jamil and the AIFF cannot afford to waste.

The past two decades have been filled with slogans about visions, roadmaps and dreams that never materialized. Now, there's a chance to turn words into work, to use the silence as a foundation, not a void.

Because Indian football doesn't need another promise. It needs a process. And these next two years might just be the last chance to begin one.