Indian football, once hailed as the “sleeping giant of Asia,” is now a shadow of its former promise. Ranked 133rd in the latest FIFA rankings - the worst in nine years - the national team reflects the broader malaise gripping the domestic footballing structure. This downturn comes at a time when nations like Uzbekistan and Jordan have scripted new chapters by qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reaping the rewards of robust grassroots development and well-structured competitive leagues.

In stark contrast, India’s domestic scene is mired in uncertainty and neglect, with Indian Super League's upcoming seaosn now on hold. The I-League - once the country’s top-flight and still the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) own product - has been gasping for breath amid dwindling funds and administrative apathy. The league's budget dropped from Rs 15.1 crore in 2021 to Rs 10.18 crore last year, a decline of 33 per cent. Since being stripped of its top-tier status in 2019, the I-League has suffered from poor scheduling, lack of marketing, and inadequate broadcasting - leading several clubs to shut shop.

The emergence of the ISL in 2014, a privately owned and commercially driven entity promoted by the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the marketing and commercial partner of the AIFF and owned by Reliance Industries, significantly altered Indian football's landscape. Though ISL brought glitz and corporate backing, it also pushed traditional clubs to the margins. Eight I-League clubs, including former champions Salgaocar FC and Chennai City FC, have folded since the ISL’s inception.

The AIFF’s indifference towards its own league has been deeply felt. The I-League, which once boasted a pan-India footprint - with clubs from remote outposts like Aizawl producing fairytale triumphs - was gradually relegated to obscurity. Clubs struggling with finances found little support. Costly licensing processes and the absence of a designated broadcaster meant they often had to fend for themselves. In a striking example, it was the club owners who pooled in Rs 2 crore to rope in Sony Sports as the broadcaster last season. But the burden was too heavy to bear. Many simply shut down.

Meanwhile, the AIFF appeared complecent, receiving Rs 50 crore annually from FSDL and largely relinquishing control over the ISL. The federation, bound by the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) signed in 2010, took a backseat as the commercial partner ran the show. The absence of a promotion-relegation system until 2023, and a general lack of competitive meritocracy, further stifled motivation among lower-tier clubs.

Between 2019 and 2023, the I-League - now officially the second tier - witnessed growing disillusionment. Investors exited, and clubs reeled from financial losses. Further down the Indian football pyramid, I-League 2 - the third tier - deals with an identical challenge, with the AIFF's budget allocation for the league falling over by 55 per cent in just three years. The proposed renewal of the MRA - currently the subject of much debate - seeks to suspend promotion and relegation for another ten years “unless explicitly voted for by all stakeholders.” The clause, seen by many as a shield for vested interests, threatens to entrench a system that favours the affluent ISL clubs while leaving I-League teams adrift.

The current MRA expires on December 8, 2025. Tensions have escalated between AIFF and FSDL over issues such as who will run the top-tier league and whether promotion–relegation will continue. Talks over the new draft have stalled following the Supreme Court’s directive that no major decision be taken until the court’s verdict on the new AIFF constitution - likely to influence future elections and the league’s governance - comes through.

Amid this uncertainty, FSDL has dropped a bombshell: the ISL has been placed “on hold" on July 11. In an official letter sent to clubs on Friday evening, FSDL stated that the upcoming 2025–26 season would not take place unless significant progress is made on the new agreement. “Approximately one-third of the way through a typical ISL season, which runs from September to April, it would not be possible for FSDL to effectively plan, organize, or commercialise the 2025–26 ISL season,” the letter read. The decision, it noted, “has not been taken lightly.” Their dictate came at a time when the Supreme Court is in the process of deciding on the AIFF’s constitution, possibly resulting in fresh elections - and whether the country’s top-flight league can legally be run by a private entity.

The timing is unsettling. Clubs were in the middle of assembling squads, preparing for the Durand Cup starting July 23. Transfer activity has been brisk - Mohun Bagan are in talks with Punjab FC for India left-back Tekcham Abhishek Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan is reported to be returning to Bengaluru FC, East Bengal have extended PV Vishnu’s contract, while Mumbai City FC have signed Argentine forward Jorge Pereyra Díaz.

Despite the shock, clubs remain cautiously optimistic of a breakthrough. “What they (FSDL) have communicated is not entirely new to us. There is a difference between the league being put on hold and the season being cancelled. At NorthEast United FC, we are focused on preparing to defend our Durand Cup title and remain hopeful that there will be clarity soon,” said Mandar Tamhane, CEO of NorthEast United FC.

But the league, despite its initial promise of improving the quality of football and serving as a conveyor belt of talent for the national team, has done little to fulfil that vision. Crucially, it fails to offer Indian players meaningful opportunities to play as strikers, consistently favouring foreign recruits in pursuit of immediate success - a short-sighted approach that directly hampers the nation’s long-term prospects, particularly as India continues its search for a worthy successor to Sunil Chhetri. Ashique Kuruniyan’s costly miss from close range, with only the goalkeeper to beat against Hong Kong recently, is a stark reminder of this recurring void. The argument that Indian players are not good enough to be strikers is a classic chicken-and-egg dilemma - how will they improve without being given the chance?

After enjoying a wave of early popularity - with an average of 25,408 fans attending each match - ISL has seen a sharp decline in recent years, with average attendance falling to 11,084 per match. Similarly, from a broadcaster’s perspective, the league no longer carries the same commercial allure. Viewership, which touched 429 million in its inaugural 2014 season, has dwindled to around 130 million in 2024–25.

Still, the recurring theme remains unchanged: the AIFF - India’s national football federation - continues to be a mute spectator in matters concerning its most visible product. Fans, wearied by years of underperformance and broken promises, now watch helplessly as Indian football lurches from one impasse to the next. The voices that once sought change have grown faint - worn down by a system that shows little regard for accountability, integrity, or reform.