India national futsal team

Last updated

India
Indian Football 2020.svg
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)The Futsal Tigers
Association All India Football Federation
Confederation AFC (Asia)
SAFF (South Asia)
Head coachReza Kordi
Captain Nikhil Mali
Most caps David Laltlansanga (10)
Top scorerDavid Laltlansanga (8)
FIFA code IND
FIFA ranking 135 Steady2.svg (29 August 2025) [1]
Highest FIFA ranking135 [2] (6 May 2024)
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Kit left arm.svg
Kit body ind2425h.png
Kit body.svg
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Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts ind2425h.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Home colours
Kit left arm ind2425a.png
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Away colours
First international
Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 3–0 India  Flag of India.svg
(Isa Town, Bahrain; 12 August 2023)
Biggest win
Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia 0–3 India  Flag of India.svg
(Ardiya, Kuwait; 24 September 2025)
Biggest defeat
Flag of India.svg  India 1–10 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg
(Ardiya, Kuwait; 22 September 2025)
FIFA World Cup
Appearances0
AFC Futsal Asian Cup
Appearances0

The India national futsal team represents India in international futsal competitions. The team is controlled by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) under the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Contents

India made its debut against Bahrain in an international friendly on 12 August 2023, losing 3–0. The 2024 AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualification was their first international competition which was held in October 2023.

History

Formation, debut and first tournament

On 10 December 2019, the then AIFF Executive Committee decided that a futsal club competition would be part of their calendar from 2020–21 season onwards. [3] The club championship, that was conceptualized in 2019, was held for the first time in November 2021 and followed by the second edition in February 2023. [4] [5] Based on the performance of the players in Futsal Club Championship, AIFF scouts selected a 31 members squad for the national team camp for creating the India national futsal team. [6] [7] Victor Hermans as futsal advisor in May 2023, and Joshuah Vaz as head coach in July 2023, were appointed to guide the team for India's first participation in major tournament, the qualification competition for the 2024 AFC Futsal Asian Cup. [8] [9]

In August 2023, the AIFF announced that India would play two international friendlies against Bahrain as a preparation for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualification. A fourteen-member squad of the first ever India national team was announced. [10] The team made its debut in a 3–0 loss against Bahrain at Khalifa Sports City Hall in Isa Town on 12 August 2023. [11] In the second match on 14 August, India was defeated again by Bahrain with a bigger scoreline of 4–0. [12]

India was drawn in Group E of the Asian Cup qualification where they faced Tajikistan, Myanmar and Palestine, from 2 to 13 October 2023. [10] In the first match against Tajikistan, India lost 3–6 to the host. David Laltlansanga scored all the goals, thus becoming the first ever goalscorer, as well as scoring the first ever hat-trick for the national team. [13] India again suffered loss in the next two matches, 2–5 to Myanmar and 5–6 to Palestine, thus failing to qualify for the 2024 AFC Futsal Asian Cup. K. Roluahpuia and Nikhil Mali scored twice each, while Laltlansanga scored six goals in this qualifying edition. [14] [15]

2025 – present

In March 2025, the AIFF announced that India will be participating in the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualification. [16] India was drawn in Group A along with Kuwait, Australia and Mongolia. [17] Iranian Reza Kordi was apppointed head coach of the national team. [18] As a preparation for the qualifiers, India played two international friendlies against Lebanon, both of which they lost. [19] [20] In the qualifiers, India lost the first match against Kuwait by 1–4; in the second match against Australia on 22 September 2025, India registered its worst defeat of 1–10. [21] [22] However, in the third match India finally registered its first ever win, a 3–0 victory against Mongolia. With just 3 points, India failed to qualify for the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup. [23]

Coaching staff

Following is the current coaching staff. [24]

PositionName
Head coach Flag of Iran.svg Reza Kordi
Assistant coach Flag of Singapore.svg Hassan Khodabandehloo bin Abolfazl
Goalkeeping coach Flag of India.svg Veerababu Sivaneni

Players

Following 14-member squad was called for the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualification. [24]

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
11 GK Aleef Rahman Mollah (2001-04-18) 18 April 2001 (age 24) Flag of India.svg Goal Hunterz
21 GK Ozen Vivian Silva Flag of India.svg Ambelim
51 GK Vishal Dube (2000-01-04) 4 January 2000 (age 25) Flag of India.svg Thlangtiang

32 DF Aman Shah 30 Flag of India.svg Juggernaut
2 DF Lalsangkima 30 Flag of India.svg Bhawanipore

123 MF Bijoy Gusai 50 Flag of India.svg Goal Hunterz
3 MF Anmol Adhikari Flag of India.svg Goal Hunterz
3 MF K. Roluahpuia Flag of India.svg India
3 MF Seaon D'Souza Flag of India.svg Golazo

74 FW Nikhil Mali (captain) (1996-11-11) 11 November 1996 (age 28)103 Flag of India.svg Bhawanipore
94 FW David Laltlansanga (1999-11-15) 15 November 1999 (age 25)108 Flag of India.svg Bhawanipore
4 FW Fredsan Marshall (1994-12-26) 26 December 1994 (age 30) Flag of India.svg Ambelim
4 FW Jonathan Lalrawngbawla (1997-10-13) 13 October 1997 (age 27) Flag of India.svg Thlangtiang
4 FW Mahip Adhikari (1998-11-13) 13 November 1998 (age 26) Flag of India.svg Goal Hunterz

Results and fixtures

2023

12 August 2023 (2023-08-12) Friendly Bahrain  Flag of Bahrain.svg3–0Flag of India.svg  India Isa Town, Bahrain
20:30  UTC+5:30
Report Stadium: Khalifa Sports City Stadium
14 August 2023 (2023-08-14) Friendly Bahrain  Flag of Bahrain.svg4–0Flag of India.svg  India Isa Town, Bahrain
20:30  UTC+5:30
Report Stadium: Khalifa Sports City Stadium
7 October 2023 (2023-10-07) 2024 AFC Futsal Qual Tajikistan  Flag of Tajikistan.svg6–3Flag of India.svg  India Dushanbe, Tajikistan
19:30  UTC+5:30
Report
Stadium: Dushanbe Indoor Hall
9 October 2023 (2023-10-09) 2024 AFC Futsal Qual India  Flag of India.svg2–5Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar Dushanbe, Tajikistan
16:30  UTC+5:30 Report
Stadium: Dushanbe Indoor Hall
11 October 2023 (2023-10-11) 2024 AFC Futsal Qual Palestine  Flag of Palestine.svg6–5Flag of India.svg  India Dushanbe, Tajikistan
16:30  UTC+5:30
Report
Stadium: Dushanbe Indoor Hall

2025

13 September 2025 (2025-09-13) Friendly Lebanon  Flag of Lebanon.svg7–2Flag of India.svg  India Beirut, Lebanon
21:30 IST
Report Stadium: Al Sadaka Sporting Complex
15 September 2025 (2025-09-15) Friendly Lebanon  Flag of Lebanon.svg7–4Flag of India.svg  India Beirut, Lebanon
21:30 IST
Report
Stadium: Al Sadaka Sporting Complex
20 September 2025 (2025-09-20) 2026 AFC Futsal Qual Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg4–1Flag of India.svg  India Ardiya, Kuwait
22:30 IST
Report Stadium: Qushaian Al-Mutairi Hall
22 September 2025 (2025-09-22) 2026 AFC Futsal Qual India  Flag of India.svg1–10Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Ardiya, Kuwait
18:30 IST
Report
Stadium: Qushaian Al-Mutairi Hall
24 September 2025 (2025-09-24) 2026 AFC Futsal Qual Mongolia  Flag of Mongolia.svg0–3Flag of India.svg  India Ardiya, Kuwait
18:30 IST Report
Stadium: Qushaian Al-Mutairi Hall


Competitive record

FIFA Futsal World Cup

FIFA Futsal World Cup record
YearResultPositionPldWTLGFGA
19892020 Did not enter, India didn't have a futsal team
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg 2024 Did not qualify
Total0/00000000

AFC Futsal Asian Cup

AFC Futsal Asian Cup recordQualification record
YearResultPositionPldWTLGFGAPldWTLGFGA
19992022 Did not enter, India didn't have a futsal team
Flag of Thailand.svg 2024 Did not qualify30031017
Flag of Indonesia.svg 2026 3102514
Total0/0000000061051531

Overall competitive record

As of 24 September 2025 (excluding friendlies & minor tournaments)
CompetitionPldWDLGFGAGDWin%
AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualification61051531−16016.67

Head-to-head record

As of 24 September 2025 vs Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia

The following table shows India's head-to-head and overall record.

  Positive record
  Neutral record
  Negative record

OpponentPldWDLGFGAGDWin %
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1001110−9000.00
Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 200207−7000.00
Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 100114−3000.00
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 2002614−8000.00
Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia 110030+3100.00
Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar 100125−3000.00
Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 100156−1000.00
Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan 100136−3000.00
Total101092152−31010.00

See also

References

  1. "The FIFA Futsal Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  2. FIFA Men's Futsal Ranking
  3. "Futsal club championship to kick-off from 2020 season". the-aiff.com. 13 December 2019. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  4. "Inaugural edition of Futsal Championship to kick-off in New Delhi on November 5". Asian News International. 14 October 2021. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  5. "Hero Futsal Club Championship 2022-23". the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  6. "Federation names 31 probables for National Futsal camp". the-aiff.com. 30 April 2023. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  7. Ghosh, Soumo (9 August 2023). "A new beginning: Coach Joshuah Vaz and boys look to 'punch above the weight' in international futsal". the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  8. "Joshua appointed AIFF's Futsal head coach for AFC Asian Cup". Herald Goa. 8 July 2023. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  9. Rawat, Akhil (20 February 2023). "Boost for futsal in India as Dutch legend Vic Hermans joins as consultant". the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Indian Futsal Team to make international debut against Bahrain". the-aiff.com. 6 August 2023. Archived from the original on 7 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  11. "India go down to Bahrain on international futsal debut". the-aiff.com. 12 August 2023. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  12. "India lose second international futsal friendly against Bahrain". the-aiff.com. 14 August 2023. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  13. "India bow to experienced Tajikistan despite David's deliveries". www.the-aiff.com. 7 October 2023. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  14. "Fighting India beaten by Myanmar, suffer second successive AFC Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers loss". www.the-aiff.com. 9 October 2023. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  15. "India go down to Palestine in a futsal cliff-hanger". www.the-aiff.com. 11 October 2023. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  16. "AIFF Futsal Committee proposes men's and women's club championships in June". All India Football Federation. 25 March 2025. Archived from the original on 18 September 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  17. "India draw Kuwait, Australia, Mongolia in AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers". All India Football Federation. 26 June 2025. Archived from the original on 18 September 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  18. "India has great potential, says futsal men's national team head coach Reza Kordi". All India Football Federation. 2 September 2025. Archived from the original on 18 September 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  19. "Indian men's futsal team suffer defeat against Lebanon in preparatory friendly". All India Football Federation. 13 September 2025. Archived from the original on 16 September 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  20. "Futsal Tigers suffer second friendly defeat against Lebanon". All India Football Federation. 16 September 2025. Archived from the original on 18 September 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  21. "Futsal Tigers lose lead and match against Kuwait in Asian Cup Qualifiers". All India Football Federation. 20 September 2025. Archived from the original on 21 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  22. "Futsal Tigers suffer drubbing at the hands of Australia". All India Football Federation. 22 September 2025. Archived from the original on 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  23. "India trounce Mongolia to get historic first win on futsal court". All India Football Federation. 24 September 2025. Archived from the original on 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  24. 1 2 "Indian men's futsal team to play two friendlies against Lebanon in Beirut". All India Football Federation. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.