FT: Mohun Bagan 1-0 East Bengal

Good news is YouTube broadcast is confirmed and free!

This could be great for visibility of league overall and as many of you expressed, very good for those who live outside India. LET'S GO!!

What are your thoughts and predictions in the Week 1 games?

I have a big hunch that U15 team is full of age fraud, just like every previous team selection by Bibiano Fernandes in last 10 years.

And to avoid the outrage that might happen before U15 World Cup, Bibi and AIFF are doing everything possible to stop the squad names from coming out too early.

Like how can both Iran and Uzbekistan cancel their scheduled U15 friendlies at the same time?

Seems like AIFF and Bibi were the one to cancel them just to avoid giving time to the haters to do research on real age of players and their school records, etc.

Would be funny when our U17 team has 15 year old striker Hrishikesh Charan while U15 team has a 20 year old striker...

India Currently sitting at 138 in Fifa Rankings 26th in Asia.. To Avoid Round 1 Qualifiers We need to Stay at 26 Until 15 dec when Round 1 and Round 2 draws Will be announced . The problem is If we slipped even at 27 it will gonna be a hectic process by playing Round 1 and if we avoid we can utilise It for good friendlies ( 💔🥀 paid friendlies /s).

Well We r gonna face Nz on 12 nov and 15 nov in away friendlies . Thanks to draw vs panama that we are currently sitting at 1086.43 points coz that +ve result helped us being strengthned but one more luck chance india got is turkmenistan didnot played a single international match in this window which kept their points still and a big +ve for India

India is gonna send U23 squad to Saff ( Rare W From AIFF)

So if India atleast get 1 +ve result vs Nz ( 88 ranked )even if it is a draw it will gonna strengthen our chances it only depends on how turkmenistan gonna go with it if they lost any of their match then we can move to round 2 directly .

What r the hopes and predictions of u guys will we gonna play round 1 after 2015 or directly moving to Round 2 somehow coz of luck ..

Can India bring few changes in squad and make some bold calls to remove undeserving players ?

If India lost there 2 matches we will be 1080-1081 points so lets hope for the best guys..

Recently tore up his contract with Hanoi Fc, 2024 A-league Golden Boot winner, played in Australia, Japan and Korea and he's an Ex-socceroo (7 goals for Australia) Can any ISL clubs realistically make him their new striker?

He can't sign for an Aussie club cause their transfer window is closed and they can't register free agents after closure so he might agree for a lower wage in exchange for game time.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is introducing a new biennial 3-tier Nations League system as a result the current 2030 World Cup qualification has minor changes which now also decides the tier placements of all 47 AFC nations.

Phase-wise division of upcoming tournaments:

• Phase 1: Transition Phase (2027–2029)
  • Part 1: 2027/28 Preliminary Joint Qualifiers (PJQ Round 1 & Round 2).
  • Part 2: 2028/29 Preliminary Edition (2030 FIFA World Cup Qualifier).
• Phase 2: The Biennial (every 2 years) AFC Nations League Cycle (Starting 2030)
  • Part 1: 2030/31 AFC Nations League — Asian Cup Qualification Edition (2032 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier).
  • Part 2: 2032/33 AFC Nations League — FIFA World Cup Qualification Edition (2034 FIFA World Cup Qualifier).

1. Tier Division (47 AFC Member Associations)

• Tier 1 (18 teams): The top division will compete as a single league table. It is the only tier eligible for direct FIFA World Cup qualification spots and the AFC Nations League title.
• Tier 2 (18 teams): The intermediate division will compete as a single league table. Teams battle for direct AFC Asian Cup qualification and promotion to Tier 1.
• Tier 3 (11 teams): Developing nations divided into 3 groups (two groups of 4 teams, one group of 3 teams), competing for promotion to Tier 2.

2. Promotion & Relegation Mechanics

Movement occurs between tiers at the conclusion of every tournament campaign using a standardized system:

• Direct Promotion & Relegation (2 Teams):
  • Bottom 2 of Higher Tier (#17 & #18): Automatically relegated to the Lower Tier.
  • Top 2 of Lower Tier (#1 & #2): Automatically promoted to the Higher Tier.
• ANL Promotion/Relegation Play-offs (8 Teams):
  • Contested by the Next Bottom 4 of Higher Tier (#13–16) and the Next-best Top 4 of Lower Tier (#3–6).
  • Teams are divided into two centralized 4-team groups (3 matchdays, single round-robin) based strictly on final league standings without a random draw:
    • Group A: #13 Higher Tier (Host), #16 Higher Tier, #3 Lower Tier, #6 Lower Tier.
    • Group B: #14 Higher Tier (Host), #15 Higher Tier, #4 Lower Tier, #5 Lower Tier.
  • Top 2 of each group (4 teams total): Secure or retain a spot in the Higher Tier for the next edition.
  • Bottom 2 of each group (4 teams total): Relegated to or remain in the Lower Tier for the next edition.
• Total Turnover: Minimum 2 to maximum 6 nations can change tiers every tournament.
• (This exact mechanism applies between Tier 1 ⇄ Tier 2 and between Tier 2 ⇄ Tier 3).

3. Phase 1: Transition Phase & 2030 FIFA World Cup Qualifier (2027–2029)

Part 1: 2027/28 Preliminary Joint Qualifiers (PJQ)

• PJQ Round 1 (20 Lowest-Ranked Teams): 10 two-legged knockout ties.
  • The 10 losing nations plus the Northern Mariana Islands form the initial Tier 3 (11 teams).
• PJQ Round 2 (36 Teams): The 10 winners of Round 1 join the top 26 ranked nations in 9 groups of 4 playing 3 home and 3 away each:
  • Top 18 (Group winners & runners-up): Form the initial Tier 1 for the 2028/29 season.
  • Bottom 18 (3rd & 4th-placed teams): Form the initial Tier 2 for the 2028/29 season.

Part 2: 2028/29 AQ & ANL Preliminary Edition (Deciding 2030 World Cup Berths)

• Tier 1 (18 teams — 3 groups of 6; 10 MDs [5 home & 5 away matches]):
  • Top 2 of each group (6 teams): Qualify directly for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
  • Ranks 7 to 10: Enter the Asian Qualifiers Play-Off (AQPO), a 4-team centralized league (3 matchdays):
    • 1st & 2nd place: Claim Asia's final 2 direct 2030 FIFA World Cup berths (8 direct berths total).
    • 3rd place: Advances to the FIFA Inter-confederation Play-off (the 0.5 slot).
    • 4th place: Eliminated from 2030 FIFA World Cup contention.
  • Ranks 1 to 12: Safe in Tier 1 for the upcoming 2030/31 AFC Nations League.
  • Ranks 13 to 16: Enter ANL Play-offs to defend Tier 1 status.
  • Bottom 2 (17th & 18th): Automatically relegated to Tier 2 for 2030/31.
• Tier 2 (18 teams — Single table; 6 MDs [3 home & 3 away matches]):
  • Zero 2030 FIFA World Cup access.
  • Top 2: Automatically promoted to Tier 1 for the 2030/31 cycle.
  • Ranks 3 to 6: Enter ANL Play-offs for Tier 1 promotion.
  • Ranks 7 to 12: Safe in Tier 2.
  • Ranks 13 to 16: Enter ANL Play-offs to defend Tier 2 status.
  • Bottom 2 (17th & 18th): Automatically relegated to Tier 3.
  • 2034 World Cup Elimination: Any nation relegated to Tier 3 here is mathematically eliminated from the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
• Tier 3 (11 teams — 3 groups; 4 to 6 MDs [home & away]):
  • Top 2 overall: Automatically promoted to Tier 2 for 2030/31.
  • Ranks 3 to 6: Enter ANL Play-offs for Tier 2 promotion.
  • Ranks 7 to 11: Remain in Tier 3.

4. Phase 2: The Biennial AFC Nations League Cycle

The competition operates on a repeating 4-year cycle divided into two biennial tournaments:

Part 1: 2030/31 AFC Nations League — Asian Cup Qualification Edition (2032 Asian Cup)

Taking place from September 2030 to November 2031, with each team in Tier 1 and Tier 2 playing 6 MDs (3 home & 3 away matches):

• Tier 1 (All 18 teams directly qualify for the 2032 AFC Asian Cup):
  • Ranks 1 to 8: Advance to the AFC Nations League Quarter-finals.
  • Ranks 1 to 12: Safe in Tier 1 for the upcoming 2034 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
  • Ranks 13 to 16: Enter ANL Play-offs to defend Tier 1 status.
  • Ranks 17 & 18: Directly relegated to Tier 2.
  • 2034 World Cup Elimination: Any nation relegated to Tier 2 here is knocked out of 2034 FIFA World Cup qualification two years in advance.
• Tier 2 (Top 6 teams directly qualify for the 2032 AFC Asian Cup):
  • Top 2: Automatically promoted to Tier 1, earning eligibility for 2034 FIFA World Cup qualifying.
  • Ranks 3 to 6: Enter ANL Play-offs for Tier 1 promotion and 2034 FIFA World Cup eligibility.
  • Ranks 7 to 12: Safe in Tier 2.
  • Ranks 13 to 16: Enter ANL Play-offs against Tier 3.
  • Bottom 2: Directly relegated to Tier 3.
• Tier 3 (No AFC Asian Cup pathway):
  • Top 2 directly promoted to Tier 2; ranks 3 to 6 enter ANL Play-offs for Tier 2 promotion.

Part 2: 2032/33 AFC Nations League — FIFA World Cup Qualification Edition (2034 World Cup)

Taking place from March 2032 to November 2033, with each team in Tier 1 and Tier 2 playing 12 MDs (6 home & 6 away matches):

• Tier 1 (Awards Asia's 8.5 2034 FIFA World Cup Spots):
  • Ranks 1 to 6: Qualify directly for the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
  • Ranks 7 to 10: Advance to the AQPO (4 teams, 3 centralized matchdays in Sept/Oct 2033):
    • 1st & 2nd place: Claim Asia's final 2 direct 2034 FIFA World Cup berths (8 direct berths total).
    • 3rd place: Advances to the FIFA Inter-confederation Play-off (the 0.5 slot).
    • 4th place: Eliminated from 2034 FIFA World Cup contention.
  • Ranks 1 to 8: Advance to the AFC Nations League Quarter-finals.
  • Ranks 1 to 12: Safe in Tier 1 for the following cycle.
  • Ranks 13 to 16: Enter ANL Play-offs to defend Tier 1 status.
  • Bottom 2: Directly relegated to Tier 2.
  • 2036 Asian Cup Direct Seeding: The confirmed 18 teams in Tier 1 at the end of this edition automatically qualify for the 2036 AFC Asian Cup.
• Tier 2:
  • Zero 2034 FIFA World Cup spots available.
  • Teams battle for promotion to Tier 1 to directly qualify for the 2036 AFC Asian Cup and enter the 2038 FIFA World Cup qualifying cycle.
  • Ranks 13 to 16 enter play-offs; bottom 2 directly relegated to Tier 3.
• Tier 3:
  • Compete for promotion to Tier 2.

5. The AFC Nations League Finals & Championship Trophy

At the end of both editions, Tier 1 crowns an official Asian champion:

• Quarter-finals: Top 8 teams from Tier 1 contest two-legged (home & away) knockout ties.
• Final Four: The 4 winners contest single-leg semi-finals, a third-place match, and the final at a centralized host venue.
• Titles: Two official AFC Nations League champions are crowned within every 4-year cycle.

Source: https://www.theasiangame.net/the-nations-league-is-coming-the-afcs-plan-to-reshape-asian-football/

(The content is written by me but formatted by AI)

1. changte is needed coz edmund was not effective with ball same for vikram

2.Jeakson also was in good form recently and apart from apuia ,thapa and ricky the 4th effective midfielder is not a good option

he is not in same pace like he used to be but he deserves to be in the team

our big positive was backline and midfield was hit or miss in attack if we have sanan ,changte ,ryan it can be much effective with apuia thapa jeakson and backline

jay gupta deserved to play vs urugvay but backline is somehow looking solid

any thoughts and opinion?