Igor Stimac sacked – Why was India football coach asked to leave? – Sporting News

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has sacked Igor Stimac as the head coach of the Indian national football team.
The decision came after a series of disappointing performances, including a poor showing at the AFC Asian Cup and a failed attempt to reach the third round of the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
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The AIFF released a statement saying, “A notice of termination has been issued to Mr. Stimac by the AIFF Secretariat, and he stands relieved of his obligations with immediate effect. The AIFF thanks Mr. Stimac for his service to the national team and wishes him well in his future endeavors.”
Under Stimac, India played 53 games, winning 19, losing 20, and drawing 14. The team scored 71 goals and conceded 76, with a win record of 35.8%. Despite these statistics, the team’s performance was not up to expectations.
Stimac’s tenure saw India’s FIFA ranking drop from 101 in 2019 to 121 in 2023. The failure to advance to the third round of the World Cup qualifiers was a primary reason in his dismissal.
India’s performance in the AFC Asian Cup was below par. In the World Cup qualifiers, a promising win against Kuwait was followed by poor results against Afghanistan and a loss to Qatar. This left India third in their group, dashing hopes of progressing further.
India’s participation in the Hangzhou Asian Games was also disappointing. They lost 5-1 to China, drew 1-1 with Myanmar, and beat Bangladesh 1-0 before being eliminated by Saudi Arabia.
Stimac had declared he would resign if he failed to reach the third round of the World Cup qualifiers. “If I don’t take India to the third round I will leave, with my pride, with my honor on everything that was done here in the five years of work,” he had said.
The AIFF’s decision to sack Igor Stimac reflects the overall disappointment with the national team’s recent performances. Despite his confidence, the results did not meet expectations which lead to his departure. The search for a new coach now begins, as India looks to rebuild and improve its standing in international football.
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Divy Dubey is a content producer for The Sporting News' India edition.

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