The Indian men’s football team had a successful yet heavy year in 2021 as they won their record-expanding 8th SAFF Championship but failed to qualify directly for the AFC Asian Cup. The national team played 12 international matches, which were out in 12 months. The first two were international friendships – against Oman and the United Arab Emirates – in Dubai. Although Igor Stimac’s men managed to hold Oman at 1-1, the UAE beat them 6-0.
The matches were in preparation for the remaining combined qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, which were pushed back a year ago due to the coronavirus pandemic. India played Qatar, Bangladesh and Afghanistan for their remaining 3 group games at the centralized venue in Doha. After draws against Qatar, Bangladesh and Afghanistan in the first round and losing to Oman in both legs, India’s chances looked uncertain. With a narrow 0–1 defeat to Qatar, India secured their first and only victory of the group stage as they beat Bangladesh 2–0, but finished third in the group with a 1–1 draw against Afghanistan. He made his camp.
With only 7 points from 8 games, India were not one of the best-placed third-placed teams in the tournament, and were therefore placed in the third round of qualification for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, unlike a straight berth in the tournament. in China. This was followed by the 13th edition of the SAFF Championship for India, which was postponed twice in two years, which was finally staged this year in Male, Maldives. In preparation again, India played Nepal in two international friendly matches in Kathmandu. After a 1–1 draw, a dissatisfied Indian senior national team banded together to win 2–1 in their second meeting.
The group stage of the SAFF Cup had a poor start for India as Bangladesh made steady improvements to hold them at 1-1 and an unassailable performance saw them play out a goalless draw with Sri Lanka. Needing a win, India switched styles and won comfortably over Nepal (1–0) and Maldives (3–1) to secure their place in the title match. There Nepal improved their record with a 3–0 win. The Indian Super League had a more eventful year for Indian club teams as FC Goa became the Indian club to play in Asia’s premier club football tournament, after topping the 2019-20 ISL points table.
Gaur took on Qatar’s Al Rayan, UAE’s Al Wahda and Iran’s Persepolis in the two-legged group stage. They finished a respectable third in the group, with 3 draws and 3 losses as Edu Bedia scored the first goal, an assist from Brandon Fernandez and Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem got two clean sheets in the first two games. In fact, the Indian shot-stopper made it to the AFC Champions League squad of the season after his impressive performance and 20 saves. For the AFC Cup, India’s ATK Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC (after qualifying from the play-offs) faced Bangladesh’s Basundhara Kings and home team Maldives’ Maziya in the South Asia Zone group stage.
After the single leg round, ATK Mohun Bagan finished in the unbeaten group with 2 wins and a draw against Bashundhara. But in the Inter-Zone play-off semi-final, ATK Mohun Bagan crashed and burned as they were beaten 6–0 by Uzbekistan FC Nasaf. The I-League, played behind closed doors in Kolkata and Kalyani and split into two stages, was comfortably won by Goa’s Goukalam Kerala as Churchill Brothers and TRAI FC finished second and third respectively.
Neroca was to be dropped, but was reinstated by AIFF due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The Indian Super League had a photo finish as Mumbai City pipped ATK Mohun Bagan to win the ISL League Winners Shield by goal difference as well as clinch the ISL title for the first time.
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