Amid one of the most turbulent phases in Indian football, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour in New Delhi, drawing criticism for its timing. The original trophy returned to India after nearly 12 years, with former Brazil World Cup winner Gilberto Silva attending the unveiling.
Fans highlighted the irony of celebrating the sport’s biggest silverware while domestic football struggles. The Indian Super League, restarting on February 14 after the collapse of the AIFF–FSDL deal, faces financial stress, pay cuts, and reduced match sharpness, while India’s FIFA ranking has dropped to a record-low 142. The trophy tour’s spectacle contrasted sharply with the ongoing chaos in Indian football.
