India men’s national football team coach Igor Stimac was sacked by the AIFF after the Blue Tigers failed to reach the third round of FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers. read more
India national football team coach Igor Stimac was sacked by the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) on Monday after the Blue Tigers failed to reach the third round of FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers. The decision to sack Stimac was taken after a virtual meeting of senior officials on 16 June, AIFF said in a statement.
“Noting the disappointing outcome of the Senior Men’s National Team’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification campaign, the members unanimously agreed that a new Head Coach would be best placed to take the team forward,” the statement read.
“The meeting instructed the Acting Secretary General Mr. Satyanarayan to notify the current Head Coach Mr. Igor Stimac of its decision to terminate his engagement.”
The AIFF added that a notice of termination has already been issued to Stimac by the AIFF Secretariat and “he stands relieved of his obligations with immediate effect.”
The federation also thanked the former Premier League player “for his service to the National Team”.
In the second round of the World Cup qualifiers, India finished third in the four-team Group A with one win from six matches. The Blue Tigers were in second place for the longest period and looked set to qualify for the third round before losing form towards the end of the group stage.
The defeat to Afghanistan in March at Guwahati and a goalless draw against Kuwait at Kolkata in June spoiled India’s chances who lost to Qatar in their last match, leading to their elimination.
The 1998 World Cup bronze medallist with Coratia, Stimac, was appointed India’s coach in May 2019. Under his guidance, India won four trophies including the SAFF Championship in 201 and 2023, the Tri-Nation Series and the Intercontinental Cup last year.
Stimac had a contract till 2026 and as per reports AIFF will most likely have to pay him a compensation package of $ 3,60,000 (Rs 3 crore approximately).
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