No Mohun Bagan players in Team India – Why and how MBSG players missed the Unity Cup in London?

The Indian National Men’s Team and Mohun Bagan Super Giant are once again at loggerheads. On Saturday, seven Bagan players returned to the club, with their tickets canceled just over 12 hours before they left for London for Unity Cup 2026.

The rest of the team, comprising 18 players, left from Bengaluru in the early hours of Sunday. What happened in the last 24 hours that forced the change?

Eight players – including one injured member – were shortlisted in India’s preliminary squad for the Unity Cup, to be played at The Valley in London between May 26 and 30. They were: Vishal Kaith, Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Lalengmawia Ralte (injured), Sahal Abdul Samad, Anirudh Thapa, Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco and Suhail Ahmad Bhat.

Seven of them reached the national camp on May 22. However, none of them were able to travel further.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) had communicated the Unity Cup plan to all Indian Super League (ISL) clubs in early April. However, Bagan did not respond until late May, with MBSG CEO Vinay Chopra saying: ‘MBSG will release players in the FIFA international window. You can coordinate with the players accordingly.”

How did the whole fiasco unfold?

• April 10: AIFF emailed all clubs with information about the Unity Cup
• April 23: Follow-up email sent to clubs, detailing visa requirements for player visas.
• Early May: Clubs were informed about the tour of Tajikistan in the June international window
• Early May: Clubs were told that players would fly from Bengaluru to London around May 24.
• Mid May: After the release of the final round of ISL matches, clubs were informed that selected players would have to report in Bengaluru on May 22.
• May 20: Vinay Chopra, CEO of Bagan SG, emails: ‘MBSG will release players in the FIFA international window. You can coordinate with the players accordingly.” By then, visas for all 28 players had been processed and tickets were being sent out.
• May 21-22 (first half): Players traveled to Bengaluru and had a recovery session in the evening
• May 23 morning: MBSG players were asked not to attend national team training and report to the club. However, the club has claimed that it has asked the players to decide for themselves. If they stayed and got injured, the club would not be responsible for their recovery.
• May 23 evening: The national team waited until 3:50 PM for a solution. However, there was no U-turn and the tickets for all seven players were cancelled.

A big blow for India?

Bagan is home to some of India’s best national team players, including regulars like Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco and under-23 star Suhail Ahmad Bhat. Four of the seven are among the top 10 most expensive Indian players in the ISL, while three of them started India’s previous match – the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong, China, which the Blue Tigers won 2-1.

For the national team, their absence could be a major factor in the results, especially as both of India’s matches at the Unity Cup will be against higher-ranked opponents. Although the tournament falls outside the official window, FIFA has awarded it ‘Tier 1’ status, meaning ranking points will be the same as matches in official calendar slots.

The Blue Tigers have almost been in freefall since June 2023, when they entered the top 100 of the FIFA rankings. They currently sit 133rd, and a win against teams like Jamaica, who narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, would provide a major boost to the rankings – a goal for which Bagan’s stars could have played a major role.

Which players have traveled for the Unity Cup?

• Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Albino Gomes (Hrithik Tiwari will join later).

• Defenders: Rahul Bheke, Nikhil Poojary, Roshan Singh Naorem, Sandesh Jhingan, Akash Mishra, Bijoy Varghese, Pramveer.

• Midfielders: Ashique Kuruniyan, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Noufal PN, Ricky Shabong.

• Forwards: Ryan Williams, Edmund Lalrindika, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rahim Ali, Farukh Choudhary.

Not the first time

Bagan has insisted that releasing players outside FIFA windows has cost it dearly in the past, citing examples of Ashique Kuruniyan and Subhasish Bose. Kuruniyan had suffered an ACL injury during the 2023 King’s Cup, while Bagan claim Subhasish injured his adductor and groin muscle during the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers last year.

It is not the first time that Bagan has refused to release players for national duties.

During the CAFA Nations Cup in August-September 2025, the first tournament under Khalid Jamil as India coach, Bagan refused to release players for the same reason. Although India finished third, they struggled to maintain balance as their players returned to the squad for the Asian Cup qualifiers.

The aftermath: India somehow with Singapore, before suffering back-to-back losses to the Lions and Bangladesh, and being knocked out of the 2027 Asian Cup race.

While Bagan is well within his rights, the timing of the refusal, especially after the end of the season, raises an uncomfortable question in Indian football: when club and country are moving in opposite directions, where do the players stand?

Published on May 24, 2026