Why India Football Clubs Out from AFC Champions League?

Indian football is at an all-time low. With the men's national team failing to qualify for the expanded AFC Asian Cup, the rankings are in free fall. With the club football in utter disarray, the future looks bleak. Indian football clubs in AFC Champions League is already an unreal dream, and the question of why Indian football clubs are out of AFC Champions League 2 is a burning question. Let us explore why the Indian clubs AFC Champions League is not possible anymore.

Indian Football Clubs Out of AFC Champions League 2

Mohun Bagan Super Giants qualified for the AFC Champions League 2 courtesy of their Indian Super League triumph. FC Goa earned their spot at this season's edition after qualifying through the playoffs. However, the group stages were a nightmare as the teams crashed out for different reasons. Mohun Bagan refused to travel to Iran to play Sepahan SC on the first match day, as the country was on the list of no travel zones for many of its overseas contingent. They forfeited the game, and it invited the wrath of the AFC. The governing body kicked MBSG out of the competition, leaving Indian clubs AFC Champions League two with only a single team.

Goa achieved a historic qualification but were second best on the field whenever they took to it. They lost all six group stage games and scored only three times but conceded 14 goals. It showed the gulf in class between the teams. However, they were impressive against Al Nassr at Goa and could've won the game against Istiklol. But they finished bottom of the group, leading to grave consequences for Indian football.

Indian football clubs in AFC Champions League

Qualification for AFC club competitions depends on the AFC club competition ranking. It takes the performances of clubs in Asian competitions and the strength of the league into account. With MBSG and Goa failing to make it out of the AFC Champions League 2 group stages, they lost some merit points.

India's top flight, the Indian Super League, is yet to start this season. With the league in chaos, the coefficient is in freefall. In the most recent rankings update, India dropped to 14th in the ranking. Hence, Indian football clubs in AFC Champions League and AFC Champions League Two will not get a direct qualification spot. They are only eligible to play in the AFC Challenge League, which is Asia's third-tier competition in the 2026-27 season.

Unless Indian clubs' AFC Champions League performances improve drastically and the league resumes and performs exceedingly well, there will be no Indian clubs in Asia's top-flight competitions.