'More They Play, More They Improve': AIFF Chief Kalyan Chaubey Defends India Following 6-1 Defeat To Uruguay

All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Kalyan Chaubey praised India’s performance against Uruguay, particularly their strong start, confidence and work rate. 

He suggested the rain interruption after India’s equaliser may have disrupted their momentum and said regular matches against top-level opposition are crucial for the team’s development. 

Chaubey also stressed that international friendlies help identify strengths and weaknesses ahead of major competitions and expressed confidence in the team’s potential.

India suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat to Uruguay at Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday. Anirudh Thapa provided a brief moment of joy for the home side with a historic goal, but Uruguay quickly regained control and went on to dominate the match.

"Well, I think the team played well; the start was excellent, especially with the goal scored from the penalty. Some people argued it wasn't a penalty—claiming it was a clean tackle—but regardless, the match was halted by rain just after the equaliser made it one-all. Had the match not been paused for those 20 minutes right when the Indian national team was gaining momentum, the result might have been different... They played against players from top global clubs, and the more they play such tough matches, the more they will improve. That is the very purpose of international friendlies: to test the team's strengths and weaknesses so they can perform well in the main competitions later on. I believe this team has immense potential... We saw how hard they worked on the pitch, and the best part was their confidence,” Chaubey told ANI after the match. 

West Bengal Minister Indranil Khan described India’s match against Uruguay as a landmark moment, highlighting the exposure gained from facing top footballing nations such as Brazil and Uruguay. 

Khan praised the Indian team’s efforts despite missed opportunities and said the experience could be a major milestone for Indian football. Khan also criticised what he described as the politicisation of football in West Bengal, alleging that political interference and nepotism had harmed the state’s football ecosystem over the past two decades.

"We witnessed history being made; our Indian national team played against top-tier footballing nations—powerhouses like Brazil or Uruguay. We believe the Indian national team can truly compete at that level. For us spectators, as well as for the Indian footballers, this was a massive experience—a huge opportunity, significant exposure, and, I think, a major milestone for Indian football... The Indian team tried to convert several opportunities, though luck wasn't on their side today. Still, we witnessed excellent football, and it was a great moment for us. Look at how politics—specifically the politics of the Trinamool Congress and the CPM—infiltrated the football grounds of the Kolkata Maidan over the last 10 to 20 years; it wreaked havoc on football in West Bengal—a state that is India's biggest hub for football lovers. Politics should not enter certain spaces—such as hospitals, educational institutions, or sports grounds—yet they forced their way in, establishing 'cut-money' syndicates and fostering political nepotism,” Khan told ANI. 

Thapa’s equaliser was a piece of Indian football history even in defeat. He became only the second Indian to score against Uruguay in a senior international, following Manas Bhattacharya, who scored in India’s 3-1 loss at Eden Gardens in the 1982 Nehru Cup.

India end the three-match window with a draw against Panama and defeats to Brazil and Uruguay. They scored twice and conceded 11 goals against three teams that played at the 2026 World Cup. Thapa’s goal will endure as the night’s Indian moment. Uruguay’s response showed how quickly a match at this level can escape India.