Association football is one of the most popular sports in India. The 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup was the first FIFA event the country hosted. It was called the most successful FIFA U-17 World Cup ever, with a record-breaking attendance of 1,347,133, exceeding China's record of 1,230,976 from 1985. India also hosted the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and bid to host the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
The Indian Football Association, abbreviated as IFA, is the organisation that administers football in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the oldest football association in India and was founded in 1893. Among the founders was former English international Elphinstone Jackson.
The United Sports Club is a professional football club based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. United SC was founded in 1927. The club competes in I-League 2 as well as Calcutta Football League, the oldest football league in Asia.
Mohammedan Sporting Club, commonly referred to as Mohammedan, is an Indian multi-sports club based in Kolkata, West Bengal. The club is best known for their professional men's football section which competes in the Indian Super League, the top of the Indian football league system, as well as Calcutta Football League (CFL), the oldest football league in Asia. Formed in February 1891, it is one of the oldest active football clubs in the country. Mohammedan is first Indian club to win the Durand Cup, also the first Indian club to win a overseas tournament.
Dalhousie Athletic Club is an Indian professional sports club based in Kolkata, West Bengal, best known for its football section. It was established in 1880, during the British rule in India. Dalhousie has competed in the Premier Division of Calcutta Football League for a long time.
Raju Eknath Gaikwad is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender for I-League 3 club Diamond Harbour FC. Gaikwad primarily plays as a centre back, but can also play as a full back and is a long throw specialist.
Southern Samity is an Indian professional multi-sports club from Kolkata. Founded in 1945, the club is also based in Siliguri, North Bengal. Apart from sports, they are also involved in numerous cultural activities. Its football section competes in the Calcutta Football League premiere division A, and previously participated in the I-League 2nd Division, then second tier of Indian football league system.
The history of football in India is a long and detailed one, as it was the national sport at one time. The impetus for this was to unify the Indian Army. There is evidence of football games being played in the army since at least 1949. India is home to some of the oldest football clubs in the world, and the world's third oldest competition, the Durand Cup. There was a time when football in India was highly celebrated. The Indian football outfit was called the "Brazilians of Asia".
Bhawanipore Club, also known as সংবাদ প্রতিদিন ভবাণীপুর ক্লাব for sponsorship reasons, is an Indian professional football club based in Bhowanipore, Kolkata, West Bengal. The club was established in 1910, and competed in the I-League 2nd Division, then second tier of Indian football league system.
Kalighat Milan Sangha Football Club is an Indian multi-sports club based in Kalighat, Kolkata, West Bengal. Its football team currently competes in the Premier Division of Calcutta Football League.
George Telegraph Sports Club is an Indian football based in Kolkata, West Bengal, that competes in the Calcutta Football League, the top tier state football league in West Bengal. The club plays all their home matches at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium. They have also competed in the I-League 2nd Division, the second tier of Indian football league system.
Eastern Railway Football Club is an Indian institutional multi-sports club based in Kolkata, West Bengal. The club was incorporated in 1882. Its widely known football team has mostly competed in CFL Premier Division B.
Food Corporation of India Football Club is an Indian institutional football club based in Kolkata, West Bengal. The club, also known as FCI East Zone, plays in the Calcutta Football League Premier Division.
East Bengal Football Club Reserves and Academy commonly referred to as East Bengal, is the reserve team and youth system of the Indian Super League side East Bengal FC. Reserves generally consist of younger players, but at times senior players also play, if recuperating from injury or not getting first team game time. Apart from the I-League 2 (formerly), the reserve side plays in the Calcutta Football League, currently under the sponsorship name Emami East Bengal Club.
East Bengal FC Women, commonly referred to as East Bengal, is a women's football club based in Kolkata, West Bengal. It is the women's football section of East Bengal FC. They compete in the Indian Women's League, the women's premier football league in India. They are also the reigning Kanyashree Cup champions, the top-flight tournament of women's football in the state of West Bengal under the Indian Football Association.
Bengal Nagpur Railway Football Club is an Indian institutional football club based in Kolkata, West Bengal. Founded in 1929, the club competes in the Premier Division B of the Calcutta Football League.
Calcutta Customs Club is an Indian institutional multi-sports club based in Kolkata, West Bengal. It is best known for its football section, which competes in the Calcutta Football League.
The 2023 Women's IFA Shield was the inaugural edition of the Women's IFA Shield, the premier women's football cup competition organized by the Indian Football Association in West Bengal. It had 6 teams participating in the edition including Indian Women's League team – East Bengal and other five Kanyashree Cup teams – Sreebhumi, Mohammedan Sporting, Chandney SC, WB Police and Nadia DSA. The inaugural edition was held at the Tehatta and Krishnanagar City of Nadia District in West Bengal. On 2 June 2023, East Bengal defeated Sreebhumi 5–0 in the final to lift the inaugural Women's IFA Shield title.
The 2024–25 Indian Women's League is the eighth season of the Indian Women's League, the top division women's professional football league in India.
