The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has invited applications from eligible retired footballers for inclusion in its Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) rosters, in line with the provisions of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, and the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026.
The federation will prepare two separate rosters comprising 20 retired male footballers and 20 retired female footballers.
According to the AIFF notice, applicants must be Indian citizens, at least 25 years old, of sound mind, and retired from competitive football. They must not have participated in any competition leading to district, state or national selection for at least one year before submitting their application.
Applicants must also meet at least one of the tier-based eligibility criteria. Tier 1 comprises Olympic or Paralympic medallists, followed by Tier 2 for those who have represented India in at least two editions of the Olympic or Paralympic Games and Tier 3 for athletes who have competed in at least one edition.
Tiers 4 to 9 cover medallists at the World Championships, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, while Tier 10 is reserved for players who have won a gold, silver or bronze medal at the National Games or the National Championships.
If the number of eligible applicants in a particular tier exceeds the available vacancies, selection will be based on seniority by age.
Eligible applicants who meet the prescribed criteria can submit their applications directly to the AIFF on or before September 13, 2026.
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Published on Jul 17, 2026