The sight of Khalid Jamil donning the Indian head coach’s jersey will have to wait, as the current Jamshedpur FC manager is yet to reach an agreement with the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Following the departure of Spaniard Manolo Marquez, the AIFF invited applications for the men’s football top job.

Out of 170 applicants, the governing body of Indian football entrusted Jamil with the responsibility on 1 August. However, a report in The Telegraph revealed that Jamil has asked for a three-year contract, which the AIFF is not in favour of. Besides his contractual issues, Jamil’s joining date also depends on Jamshedpur FC’s run in the ongoing Durand Cup.

For the unknown, Jamil is the first Indian head coach of the men’s football team after 13 years since Savio Madeira (2012-13). 

The final of the Durand Cup 2025 will be played on 23 August, and if Jamshedpur FC qualifies for the final, it will not have much time to gel with the national team players ahead of its first international assignment, the Cafa Nations Cup, where India plays their first game against Tajikistan on 29 August.

In case Jamil takes charge of the Indian team in mid-August, he will not have all the players at his disposal in the camp, with 10 players are expected to make the cut from Kolkata heavyweights Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal due to the Durand Cup.

AIFF may decide Khalid Jamil’s joining date on 7 August

Meanwhile, Jamil’s joining date might get finalised on 7 August when the AIFF meets the CEOs of all the Indian Super League (ISL) clubs. Jamshedpur FC CEO Mukul Choudhary is expected to attend the meeting in New Delhi.

The ISL-AIFF was on expected lines after the clubs wrote to the AIFF to discuss the future of Indian football. However, the ISL was put on hold by the organisers on 11 June due to a lack of clarity on the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) with the AIFF.

“AIFF officials will meet with CEOs from eight Indian Super League clubs on Thursday, August 7, 2025, in New Delhi, to discuss issues regarding #IndianFootball,” the AIFF wrote on X.