Reviving India's Football Prestige in Asia: A Retrospect of Past Accomplishments by FC Goa
Indian Clubs Elevate their Asian Football Presence
Indian football clubs have been making a significant impact on the Asian football scene, with a growing presence in top-tier and second-tier club tournaments.
Historically, Indian clubs have faced resource constraints and limited international exposure, which influenced their results on the larger Asian stage. However, in recent years, clubs like FC Goa have been breaking new ground.
In 2019-20, FC Goa became the first Indian Super League (ISL) club to qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite, marking a historic achievement for Indian club football. They qualified for the group stage directly, a major leap showcasing Indian football's growing competitiveness.
Fast forward to 2025-26, FC Goa and Mohun Bagan Super Giant qualified for the AFC Champions League Two, the second-tier Asian competition under the AFC Champions League Elite. For FC Goa, this means a challenging Group D with Saudi Arabian powerhouse Al-Nassr, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo. This fixture is dubbed the biggest in Indian club football history, reflecting increasing recognition and exposure.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant is drawn in Group C alongside clubs from Iran, Jordan, and Turkmenistan, indicating growing Indian club involvement in continental competitions overall.
The Indian Super League, launched in 2014, drew international players and coaches, boosting the sport's profile and commercial appeal. The Durand Cup, established in 1888, is the oldest football competition in Asia and played a vital role in shaping competitive football in the subcontinent.
Indian football clubs, including East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, and Mohammedan Sporting, have a significant legacy in both regional and continental competitions, dating back to the 1950s and 1960s 'golden era' of Indian football. Bengaluru FC reached the AFC Cup final in 2016, the best performance by an Indian club in a pan-Asian club tournament to date.
The All India Football Federation introduced the National Football League in 1996 to unify regional competitions, later replaced by the I-League in 2007. The AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two) is the second-tier continental competition for club football in Asia, rebranded from the AFC Cup in 2024.
Indian teams have been highly successful in the SAFF Championship, winning a record eight titles. The Indian national team secured major triumphs, including victories at the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games, and a fourth-place finish during the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
Administrative chaos engulfed the country's top-tier league. However, despite these challenges, Indian clubs continue to make strides in Asian football. For instance, FC Goa debuted in the AFC Champions League group stage in 2021, becoming the first Indian club to enter the continent's premier club competition directly.
In the preliminary stage of ACL Two 2024, FC Goa will face Oman's Al Seeb Club at Margao's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on August 14. Sharjah FC of the United Arab Emirates are the current champions of the ACL Two.
As Indian clubs continue to compete on the Asian stage, their successes serve as a testament to the growing competitiveness and recognition of Indian football in the global arena.
Sports-betting on Indian football clubs has experienced a surge due to their increased presence and competing success in the Asian football scene, especially the performance of clubs like FC Goa and Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the AFC Champions League Two.
The increasing health of Indian football, as evidenced by these club teams, has caught the attention of sports-betting markets, further boosting its commercial appeal on the continent.
