The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is considering the inclusion of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) in the national football team and plans to approach 24 such players, according to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey. While head coach Igor Stimac has expressed the importance of selecting PIO players, Indian law prohibits dual citizenship, requiring PIO players to take up Indian citizenship. The AIFF is currently in internal discussions to address this challenge and will approach the players once more clarity is established, with a sub-committee under Punjab Football Association president Samir Thapar working on collating data and information on the subject.
Previously, India had attempted to approach players like Michael Chopra, but a 2008 government rule stipulated that PIO and OCI card holders must give up their foreign citizenship and obtain Indian passports to represent India. Chaubey emphasized the need for India to play matches against higher-ranked countries, suggesting a realistic approach of competing against teams ranked from 76 to 100 to boost the team's confidence. He further mentioned aspirations to play against European sides once India reaches a ranking within the top 75-80.