AIFF has scheduled its General Elections for December 20, 2026, with former Haryana State Election Commissioner Rajeev Sharma appointed Electoral Officer. The current Executive Committee will continue until December 30 or until the newly elected committee assumes office.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has scheduled its General Elections for December 20, 2026, setting the stage for the election of a new Executive Committee to lead Indian football. The decision was taken at the federation’s Special General Body Meeting (SGBM) held in Kolkata on Sunday, October 4.
Former Haryana State Election Commissioner Rajeev Sharma has been appointed as the Electoral Officer to oversee the entire election process. The appointment is aimed at facilitating the conduct of the elections in accordance with the federation’s established procedures.
The SGBM was attended by members of the AIFF Executive Committee, representatives of member associations and officials from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). During the meeting, the General Body formally approved December 20 as the date for the AIFF General Elections.
In an official statement, the AIFF said the Special General Body Meeting was conducted in Kolkata and brought together representatives from the federation and its affiliated member associations. The presence of FIFA and AFC officials also marked the international football bodies’ participation in the proceedings.
The federation further announced that the tenure of the existing AIFF Executive Committee has been extended until December 30, 2026, or until the newly elected Executive Committee assumes office, whichever is earlier. The extension is intended to ensure continuity in the administration of the federation during the transition from the present committee to the newly elected body.
The December election will be the first AIFF General Election since September 2022. In the previous election, Kalyan Chaubey was elected as the president of the federation for a four-year term. The upcoming electoral process will therefore determine the leadership and composition of the AIFF’s next Executive Committee.
The appointment of Rajeev Sharma as Electoral Officer places responsibility for overseeing the election process with an experienced election official. As the federation moves towards the December 20 polls, further stages of the electoral process are expected to follow under the supervision of the appointed officer and in accordance with the applicable rules.
The election schedule comes at an important period for Indian football, with the national team continuing to participate in international fixtures against prominent footballing nations. India recently faced five-time world champions Brazil in an international friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium.
Brazil won the match 4-0, with Estevao, Casemiro, Gabriel Martinelli and Vinicius Junior scoring for the South American side. The fixture provided India with an opportunity to compete against one of the most prominent teams in international football.
The Brazil match formed part of India’s recent series of high-profile international fixtures. The Indian national team had also played Panama in the build-up to the Brazil encounter, while Uruguay are scheduled to visit India for another international friendly.
The upcoming AIFF election will take place against this backdrop of increased international exposure for the Indian national team. The federation’s next Executive Committee will be responsible for overseeing the administration and development of football in the country during its tenure.
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With the election date now formally announced, the AIFF has begun the process leading towards December 20. The extension of the current Executive Committee until December 30, or until the new committee takes charge, provides a defined transition period following the election.
The December 20 election is thus set to mark an important administrative milestone for the AIFF, with the newly elected Executive Committee expected to assume responsibility after the completion of the electoral process. The appointment of Rajeev Sharma as Electoral Officer and the participation of member associations, FIFA and AFC officials at the SGBM have established the framework for the upcoming election.
