Following India’s poor performance in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced on Monday that Igor Stimac has been sacked as the head coach of the Indian men’s football team.
This decision comes after the team was eliminated in the second round of the qualifiers despite a favorable draw.
Appointed in 2019, Stimac was initially given an extension until 2026, but the recent lackluster results prompted the AIFF to terminate his contract a year early.
The AIFF stated that a new head coach would be best suited to take the team forward. “The disappointing outcome of the Senior Men’s National Team’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification campaign led to this unanimous decision,” the AIFF said in a statement.
Stimac, a former Croatian international and part of the 1998 World Cup semi-finalist team, took over from Stephen Constantine in 2019. Under his leadership, India won four major trophies, including two SAFF Championships, an Intercontinental Cup, and a Tri-Nations Series. However, the team’s recent poor performance overshadowed these achievements.
India’s hopes for the World Cup qualifiers were dashed following a 1-2 defeat to Qatar in their final second-round match. Despite a chance to make history, the team’s performance fell short, and controversies, including a controversial refereeing decision against Qatar, did not help Stimac’s case.
The AIFF now faces the challenge of paying Stimac nearly 360,000 USD (approximately Rs 3 crore) as a severance package, a significant amount for a federation that has struggled financially.
Meanwhile, Stimac has issued a stern warning to the AIFF, announcing his intent to file a lawsuit in the FIFA Tribunal if his dues are not cleared within the next ten days. He labeled his sacking as ‘unilateral’ and ‘unjust.’
Stimac did not mince words while criticizing AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, whom he accuses of multiple contract breaches and holds responsible for the Indian team’s lackluster performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. The Croatian coach contends that his tenure with the Indian team has severely affected his health, PTI news agency reported.
“Based on the foregoing (not “all above”), I kindly request you to immediately, but no later than the next ten (10) days, arrange payment for the termination of my contract without just cause. This amount should represent the remaining value of my employment contract prematurely terminated by the AIFF, in accordance with Article 6 of Annex 2 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players. Otherwise, I will initiate proceedings against the AIFF before the competent FIFA Football Tribunal and file a lawsuit,” Stimac told RevSportz.
The decision to remove Stimac was taken during a meeting chaired by AIFF Vice President N.A. Haris. “The meeting instructed the Acting Secretary General, Mr. Satyanarayan, to notify Mr. Igor Stimac of the termination of his engagement,” read the official statement.
Stimac’s tenure was marked by mixed results and controversies. Despite winning titles, his tactical decisions and in-game management faced criticism. His inconsistent strategies and late substitutions during matches were often questioned.
Allegations of consulting an astrologer during the Asian Cup qualifiers further fueled controversy.
The AIFF’s technical committee, tasked with assessing Stimac’s performance, had recommended his removal following the team’s poor run in the World Cup qualifiers. The defeat to lower-ranked Afghanistan in March and a lackluster outing in the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, where India lost all their matches without scoring, added to the pressure on Stimac.
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