In the realm of Indian football, the debate surrounding the inclusion of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) footballers in the national team roster has long been a topic of discussion. With the potential to bolster the talent pool and elevate the standard of play, the prospect of allowing foreign-born players with Indian heritage to represent the nation has garnered both intrigue and controversy. Today, we will name the Top 10 Indian-origin footballers who could represent India if the OCI and POI players were permitted.

Before we get into the names of players who could or could have faced the Indian football team, let's dive into the details and rules for the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) in Indian Football.

Who are Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO)

OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) is a permanent residency that allows people of Indian origin and their spouses to live and work in India without any restrictions. This residency provides lifetime entry to the country and allows cardholders to own land and invest in India.

As per Wikipedia, the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Scheme was introduced by amending the Citizenship Act, 1955 in August 2005. The Scheme provides for registration as Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) of all Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who were citizens of India on 26th January 1950 or thereafter or were eligible to become citizens of India on 26th January 1950 except who is or had been a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or such other country as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.

What do the AIFF say about Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) players?

As per the rule of the All India Football Federation, Overseas Citizen of India and Person of Indian Origin players can not don the Indian Blue jersey. The player cannot play for India unless and until they leave their current passports and adopt Indian citizenship. Moreover, as per the law, they will have to stay in India for at least 12 months to apply for an Indian passport.

Why the OCI & PIO players don't want to give up their current nationality to play for India?

The OCI & PIO players do not want to give up their current nationality just because of the strict rules for work permits of players from countries whose FIFA ranking is higher than 70. Leagues like Premier League and others do not provide work permit visas to footballers from countries whose are ranked higher than 70.

This was the only reason Sunil Chhetri could not sign for English Premier League Club Queens Park Rangers in 2009. Queens Park Rangers wanted to sign Sunil for a three-month deal but since India at the time ranked 134 in the FIFA World Rankings, he was denied the United Kingdom work permit.

Also Read: "My dream for my country is really huge:" Sunil Chhetri describes his dream for this Indian football team post three back-to-back titles.

Did AIFF try to sign any OCI & PIO players before?

AIFF did try to sign Michael Chopra in the early 2000s, a striker from England who featured for clubs like Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Cardiff City. However, that was not fruitful for AIFF back in the day. 

Currently, as per AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, they are trying to approach 24 foreign footballers who are eligible to feature for India. Although Chaubey has not revealed any names yet.

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Have any Indian-origin players featured for India?

Arata Izumi, the Japanese-born mid-fielder gave up his Japanese nationality to play for India in 2012. He played 9 games for India and also was a part of the team which became SAFF Runners-up.

10 Indian-Origin footballers who could or could have represented India

Here are the 10 Indian-Origin footballers who could or could have represented India if Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) players were allowed to feature for the men in blue.

Dilan Markanday

Dilan, 22 is a winger who plays for the Aberdeen Football Club in the Scottish Premiership. Dilan came from Tottenham Hotspur's youth ranks and was the first-ever British Asian – as well as the first player of Indian descent – to play for the Spurs in a competitive match in 2021. Markanday was born to Deepa and Arun Markanday at Barnet in London, England

The first ever British Asian – as well as the first player of Indian descent – to play for our men's first team in a competitive game. 💙

Congratulations on your debut, @DilanMarkanday! 👏 pic.twitter.com/1XOONB0tbi

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 23, 2021

Yan Dhanda

Yan Dhanda is a 25-year-old winger playing for Ross County at the moment in the Scottish Premiership. He was born in Birmingham. Dhanda's mother is from England while his father was born to Indian parents in England.

Yan came through the ranks of West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool Youth teams and then made his senior team debut for Swansea City where he faced a lot of racism. He featured for England U16 and U17. Yan wanted to play for India at the senior level but then opted out as playing for India would mean an end to his Premier League career as well.

Manprit Sarkaria

Another left winger who could feature for India if AIFF allowed dual nationality. Manprit, born to a sikh parents in Austria, plays for the Sturm Graz in the Austrian Bundesliga and has also featured for the Austrian senior team once. He was also the top scorer of the ÖFB-Cup 2022/23.

Sarpreet Singh

Sarpreet Singh is an attacking mid-fielder born in New Zealand to Indian parents and plays for Hansa Rostock in the second-division league in Germany. He did feature for Bayern Munich in 2019 for 2 games before signing Hansa Rostock after three loan tenures. He was the first Indian-origin footballer to play in the Bundesliga. He has already featured for the New Zealand senior team nine times.

Also Read: Top 10 Premier League teams with the most own goals

Joshua Pynadath

The 21-year-old California-born forward made his name when he became the first ever player of Indian descent to join Real Madrid's youth program in 2013 and then went on to join Ajax Youth Team in 2015. He is currently playing for Jong AZ in the Netherlands and had a trial with Chelsea as well back in 2021. 

Joshua was born to an Indian father and European European-American mother in 2002.

Also Read: Top 10 Most Overpaid Forwards In The Premier League

Harpreet Ghotra

Harpreet Ghotra is a 21-year-old midfielder from Germany who was born to Indian parents and currently playing for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. He has been with the Eintracht youth teams since 2015 and now has a contract with the German team till June 2024 with an option to extend the contract.

Shaan Hundal

Shaan holds the dual nationality of both India and Canada as he was born to Indian parents in Canada. The 24-year-old striker is currently playing for the Valour FC team in Canadian Premier League. He has also featured for the Canada U18 and U20 team.

Sai Sachdev

Sachdev is another English young prodigy who can feature for India if AIFF approves the dual nationality system. He has already featured for England U16, U18 and U19 teams and is currently playing for Oldham Athletic, on a loan from Sheffield United. As a young kid, this right-back was part of the Leicester City Youth Academy as well.

Arjan Raikhy

A product of Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion academies, Arjan is a 21-year-old midfielder who plays for Leicester City in England. Arjan made his debut for Aston Villa on 8 January 2021 in an FA Cup third-round tie against Liverpool after making a name for the youth side of the club. However, he was loaned to the National League sides twice before joining Leicester City in 2023. 

Arjan was born to a British-Punjabi Sikh family in Wolverhampton. 

Also Read: Top 10 Most Overpaid Midfielders in The Premier League

Brandon Khela

The first South Asian to sign a professional deal with Birmingham City back in 2022, Bradon Khela was touted to be the one with huge potential by the club. The 19-year-old midfielder is currently on loan to Scottish Premiership club Ross County and also featured for the England U17 team in 2022. Khela's signing with Birmingham City is recognised as a historic moment in British football.

Can the Indian-origin footballers help Indian football grow?

Honestly, we do not know that. It can be a yes or a no. The main reason for the confusion is the culture of Indian football. India do have youth development projects aligned for the future and also have a structure as well.

So, having naturalized or "imported" players can cause a long harm to the development of football since all the focus will be on them. For short-term goals, it can be of good use to promote Indian football and achieve some quick results but without homegrown footballers, Indian football can not go further.

National Football team coach Manolo Marquez has decided to resign after team's poor performance against Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.

Manolo Marquez, who could not even beat a weak team like Hong Kong, which is 26th behind the Indian team in the FIFA rankings, mailed his resignation to the federation the night after the match. The federation has decided to officially announce the resignation of the national coach around Wednesday afternoon.

Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026: Teams qualified so far

India’s hopes of qualifying are now precarious

Indian men’s football has endured a challenging 18 months, marked by a single victory in 16 matches since the start of 2024. A 1-0 defeat to Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup qualifier on Tuesday exacerbated the situation, bringing the team’s struggles into sharp focus.

Fan discontent with head coach Igor Stimac’s successor, Manolo Marquez, have intensified after a string of demoralising losses, including three consecutive goalless games against Bangladesh, Thailand, and Hong Kong, leaving fans questioning the team’s ability. India’s hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Asia Cup are now precarious, and speculation surrounds Marquez’s future.

Marquez has not formally tendered his resignation

Rumours of Marquez’s potential resignation had already started doing the rounds as sources suggest that the Spaniard, who replaced Stimac in July 2024, is contemplating stepping down within a year of his appointment.

However, an All India Football Federation (AIFF) source confirmed Marquez has not formally tendered his resignation. The federation awaits official communication from him regarding his intentions but that too many not be simple.

“He can do so only after mutual agreement, that the AIFF gives him permission to part ways," an AIFF source said.

“We have not got any request in writing from Manolo that he wants to leave from the job. We can apply our mind only after he informs us what he wants," the source added.

India must win their remaining four matches

India must win their remaining four matches to maintain any hope of qualification, currently languishing at the bottom of their group. While home and away fixtures against Singapore are scheduled for the October international break, Marquez’s presence for those games remains uncertain.

Head coach Manolo Márquez announces 28-member Blue Tigers travelling squad for Thailand friendly on May 28, 2025. All the 28 players, who are currently a part of the ongoing camp in Kolkata, will travel to Thailand for the FIFA friendly for the June 4 fixture.

With a crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round on the horizon, the Indian Men's National Football Team is gearing up for a significant test. The squad will leave for Thailand on Wednesday evening for their friendly on June 4, at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani at 18:00 IST.

Subsequently, the team will depart for Hong Kong on the next day (June 5) for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round fixture.

Kolkata: The Blue Tigers' pre-Thailand training hub

The Blue Tigers' intensive training camp kicked off in Kolkata on May 19. The men in Blue underwent six full days of structured training and gym sessions. These were focused on refining patterns, defensive organisation, attacking transitions, and all other crucial elements for the gameplay.

A highlight of the camp was the inclusion of two practice matches:

• On May 26, the Blue Tigers faced Santosh Trophy Champions Bengal, securing a 2-1 victory. (goal scorers: Brandon Fernandes and Ashique Kuruniyan)
• On May 27, they faced North 24 Parganas, securing a 3-0 victory. (goal scorers: Sunil Chhetri, Chinglensana Singh Konsham and Udanta Singh Kumam)

Blue Tigers’ 28-member squad for the FIFA Friendly against Thailand

Goalkeepers: Hrithik Tiwari, Vishal Kaith, Gurmeet Singh, Amrinder Singh.

Defenders: Naorem Roshan Singh, Rahul Bheke, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Anwar Ali, Boris Singh Thangjam, Sandesh Jhingan, Asish Rai, Subhasish Bose, Mehtab Singh, Abhishek Singh Tekcham.

Midfielders: Suresh Singh Wangjam, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Udanta Singh Kumam, Lalengmawia Ralte, Liston Colaco, Ashique Kuruniyan, Brandon Fernandes, Nikhil Prabhu.

Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Edmund Lalrindika, Manvir Singh, Suhail Ahmad Bhat, Lallianzuala Chhangte.

Head Coach: Manolo Márquez

Assistant Coach: Mahesh Gawali

Assistant Coach: Benito Montalvo

Goalkeeper Coach: Marc Gamon

Strength and Conditioning Coach: José Carlos Barroso

In a groundbreaking moment for Indian football, Rahul KP, the dynamic winger of Odisha FC, has been extended a prestigious invitation to represent English Premier League powerhouse West Ham United in the highly anticipated summer edition of The Soccer Tournament (TST), an elite 7 v 7 football competition featuring 48 teams from across the globe.

This is the first time in Indian football history that an Indian player will represent a top-division English Premier League club men’s team. This is a monumental achievement not only for Rahul's burgeoning career and Odisha FC but also for the continued growth and recognition of the state of Odisha and Indian football on the international stage.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from June 4 to June 9, 2025, in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. The tournament boasts a diverse international roster, with participating teams and players hailing from countries including the United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, and India. The star-studded event will notably feature teams led by legendary footballers such as Luis Nani, Sergio Agüero, and Hope Solo.

Rahul KP will join a distinguished West Ham United squad that includes notable personalities like actor Hero Fiennes Tiffin, former Argentina international Mauro Zárate, and several professional athletes who have represented the United States in the World Indoor Football Cup.

The three group stage games featuring West Ham United will be broadcast live on YouTube channels. Additionally, these matches will be televised live on ESPN.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) celebrated the best of Indian football at the AIFF Awards 2025, held today in Bhubaneswar, honouring outstanding players, coaches, referees, and member associations for their contributions during the 2024-25 season.

The ceremony highlighted the growing competitiveness of Indian football, with Mohun Bagan SG’s Subhasish Bose and East Bengal FC’s Soumya Guguloth crowned Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year, respectively. 

AIFF Awards 2025 Winners

Individual Awards

• Men's Player of the Year: Subhasish Bose (Mohun Bagan SG, Defender)
  • Recognised for his leadership as captain and stellar performances for Mohun Bagan SG as the mariners became the first team to defend the ISL Shield, along with reclaiming the ISL Cup. Bose kept 13 clean sheets as a defender and scored 6 goals as well. 
• Women's Player of the Year: Soumya Guguloth (East Bengal FC, Forward)
  • Honoured as the top Indian scorer in the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and a key player for the Blue Tigresses. She helped East Bengal FC win the IWL 2024-25 title.
• Men's Goalkeeper of the Year: Vishal Kaith (Mohun Bagan SG)
  • Awarded for holding the record for the most clean sheets in Indian Super League (ISL) history. Kaith had a record 15 clean sheets in ISL 2024-25 and conceded only 19 goals across 26 appearances
• Most Promising Men's Player of the Year: Brison Fernandes (Midfielder)
  • Noted for his midfield mastery and potential as a rising star.
• Most Promising Women's Player of the Year: Neha (Haryana, Winger)
  • Recognised for her performances, including 2 goals in the SAFF U19 Women’s Championship and 3 goals in the Senior Women’s National Championship.
• Men's Coach of the Year: Khalid Jamil (Jamshedpur FC)
  • Won for the second consecutive year for leading Jamshedpur FC to the Kalinga Super Cup semifinals.
• Women's Coach of the Year: Sujata Kar (Sreebhumi FC)
  • Awarded for guiding newly-promoted Sreebhumi FC to a third-place finish in the IWL.
• Male Referee of the Year: Venkatesh R
  • Acknowledged for consistent officiating on the pitch.
• Female Referee of the Year: Tekcham Ranjita Devi
  • Recognised for her officiating excellence.
• Male Referee of the Year: Venkatesh R
• Male Assistant Referee of the Year: Vairamuthu P

Member Association (MA) Awards

• Most Successful MA (Club Competitions): Indian Football Association (West Bengal)
  • For dominance in men’s competitions, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal winning major titles.
• Most Successful MA (NFC Competitions): All Manipur Football Association
  • Recognised for success in the National Football Championships.
• Best MA for Supporting Women’s Football: Punjab Football Association
  • Honoured for contributions to women’s football development.
• Best MA for Hosting Most AIFF Competitions: Football Association of Odisha and Goa Football Association
  • For hosting numerous AIFF events.
• MA with Most Player Registrations (Men’s): Kerala Football Association
  • For the highest number of male player registrations.
• MA with Most Player Registrations (Women’s): Western India Football Association (Maharashtra)
  • For leading in female player registrations.
• Special Award for MA Launching New Projects: Gujarat State Football Association
  • For innovative football initiatives.
• MA with Most Grassroots Activities: Gujarat State Football Association
  • For extensive grassroots programs.
• MA with Most Youth Tournaments Conducted: Karnataka State Football Association
  • For organising numerous youth tournaments.
• MA with Most Coaching Courses: Punjab Football Association
  • For conducting the most coaching courses.
• MA with Most Refereeing Courses: Gujarat State Football Association
  • For leading in referee training programs.

On a vibrant Saturday evening, April 26, 2025, Mohun Bagan SG’s youthful squad clinched a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Kerala Blasters FC in the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 quarter-finals, securing their spot in the semi-finals.

The Mariners, boasting an all-Indian lineup save for Portuguese defender Nuno Reis, showcased their attacking flair with goals from Sahal Abdul Samad in the 22nd minute and Suhail Ahmad Bhat in the 51st. Despite a late strike from Kerala Blasters’ Sreekuttan MS in the 94th minute, Mohun Bagan SG held firm, thanks to a stellar performance by goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem. Bastab Roy’s team now awaits the winner of the FC Goa vs. Punjab FC clash in the semi-final on April 30.

The match kicked off cautiously, with both sides probing without overcommitting. For the first 20 minutes, neither team managed to create clear chances. Then, Mohun Bagan SG sparked the game to life with a moment of brilliance.

Salahudheen Adnan dazzled down the right, weaving past Naocha Singh before delivering a pinpoint cross into the box. Sahal Abdul Samad, with a deft shoulder drop, shook off Ruivah Hormipam and delicately lifted the ball over goalkeeper Sachin Suresh to break the deadlock.

The goal jolted Kerala Blasters into action, and they pushed hard for an equaliser. Noah Sadaoui, fresh off a spectacular long-range goal against East Bengal, tried his luck from distance but sent the ball straight to Dheeraj Singh.

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The Blasters grew threatening from set pieces, particularly short corners. In the 30th minute, Sadaoui’s low cross after a quick one-two with Vibin Mohanan was cleared by Dippendu Biswas. Moments later, Hormipam’s looping cross nearly sneaked into the top corner, only for Dheeraj to tip it over.

Just before halftime, Mohammed Aimen cut in from the left and unleashed a curling shot that sailed narrowly over the bar, leaving the Blasters frustrated.

The second half began with Mohun Bagan SG striking early. In the 47th minute, Sachin Suresh pulled off a stunning save to deny Salahudheen in a one-on-one, but the warning went unheeded. Four minutes later, Ashique Kuruniyan tore down the left, breezed past Hormipam, and rolled a precise pass to Suhail Ahmad Bhat, who calmly slotted it home to double the lead.

From there, the game became the Dheeraj Singh show. Kerala Blasters threw everything forward, but the Mohun Bagan goalkeeper stood tall. Jesús Jiménez squandered two golden opportunities, blasting over the bar in the 65th minute and dragging a shot wide two minutes later. In the 70th minute, Dheeraj denied substitute Kwame Peprah’s angled effort, and with five minutes left, Peprah’s low cross found Jiménez, who couldn’t connect cleanly.

Read Also | Will Indian-Origin players ever get to play for India? AIFF keeps showing its aimless approach

Dheeraj’s heroics continued as he thwarted Peprah from point-blank range, with Amandeep clearing Ebindas Y’s follow-up off the line. The Blasters finally broke through in stoppage time when Jiménez set up Sreekuttan, who rifled a shot past Dheeraj. But the goal came too late to spark a comeback.

Salahudheen Adnan earned the Kalinga Player of the Match award for his electrifying performance.