In a bizarre twist that no one saw coming, Indian football officials recently found themselves tangled in a hoax involving two of the biggest names in global football—Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez.
For a brief moment, there was buzz and excitement at the thought of either legend coaching India’s national team. But it turns out, it was all fake.
Too Good to Be True
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed in a statement that the coaching applications supposedly submitted by Guardiola and Xavi were, in fact, fraudulent.
The emails looked convincing, but the federation quickly discovered the names were used without the actual coaches’ involvement.
“The AIFF received an email furnishing the applications from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez,” read the official statement.
“The authenticity of their applications could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that the email applications were not genuine.”
How the Rumors Got Rolling
Earlier this week, India’s national team director had told The Times of India that Xavi’s name was among the applicants for the job.
One member of the technical committee even suggested that while Xavi was impressive, he would probably be too costly to consider.
Now we know—there was never a real application in the first place.
Adding to the drama, Pep Guardiola’s name had also reportedly made its way onto the list, even though he is still under contract with Manchester City until 2027.
Where Xavi and Pep Really Stand
Xavi is currently between jobs after stepping down as Barcelona’s manager in May, but Guardiola is firmly in place at City, chasing more trophies.
While neither has ever managed a national team, Guardiola has openly spoken in the past about wanting to coach one someday—perhaps in a major tournament like the World Cup or Euros.
“I’d like to coach a national team,” Guardiola admitted in an interview last year.
“A World Cup, a European Championship—I’d love that. But it’s not just about what I want. They also have to want me.”
India Still Searching for a New Head Coach
India, meanwhile, is still actively looking for someone to take over the national team following the sacking of Manolo Márquez, who only lasted a short while before returning to his previous club, FC Goa.
The search comes at a low point for Indian football—the national side was recently knocked out in the second round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers and currently sits at 133rd in the FIFA world rankings.
170 Hopefuls, Now Just Three
Despite the fake applications, the hiring process has moved forward.
The AIFF said it received around 170 coaching applications and has since narrowed that list down to just three serious candidates.
“Given the immediate needs of the national team, it is advisable to recommend three coaches from the shortlisted pool for final consideration,” the AIFF noted.
Other high-profile candidates might be tapped for more long-term, strategic roles in the future.
Who’s Actually in the Running?
According to The Times of India, the final three coaches under serious consideration are:
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Stephen Constantine, a former India national team coach
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Stefan Tarkovic, who previously managed Slovakia
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Khalid Jamil, a well-known figure in Indian domestic football
A Long Way to Go for Indian Football
India has never played in a men’s FIFA World Cup, despite having qualified for the 1950 edition in Brazil.
They famously withdrew before the tournament began.
Since then, they’ve been trying to find their footing on the global stage, and this latest incident is a strange reminder of how far they still have to go.
