1. India 1-0 Iran — 1951 Asian Games Final 🇮🇳

India beat Iran in the final of the first Asian Games football tournament, with Sahu Mewalal scoring the only goal.

It was India's first major international football title and the first Asian Games gold medal in football.

2. India 4-2 Australia — 1956 Melbourne Olympics 🇦🇺

One of India's most famous Olympic wins.

India beat the hosts Australia 4-2 in the quarter-final of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, with Neville D'Souza scoring a hat-trick.

This was India's best-ever Olympic run in men's football, taking them all the way to the semi-finals.

3. India 2-1 South Korea — 1962 Asian Games Final 🇮🇳

Probably the most iconic win of India's golden generation.

India had actually lost to South Korea 0-2 earlier in the tournament. Then came the final.

P.K. Banerjee and Jarnail Singh scored as India came from behind to win 2-1.

That gave India its second Asian Games football gold medal.

And this remains India's last Asian Games gold in football.

4. India 2-0 South Korea — 1964 AFC Asian Cup 🇮🇳

India beat South Korea 2-0 in the 1964 Asian Cup, with K. Appalaraju and Inder Singh scoring.

India's best-ever finish at the AFC Asian Cup.

5. India 1-0 Japan — 1970 Asian Games Bronze Medal Match 🇮🇳

A really underrated one.

India beat Japan 1-0 to win the bronze medal at the 1970 Asian Games.

India's last Asian Games football medal.

6. India 1-0 Syria — 2007 Nehru Cup Final 🇮🇳

India's first-ever Nehru Cup title.

7. India 4-1 Tajikistan — 2008 AFC Challenge Cup Final 🇮🇳

Sunil Chhetri hat-trick. AFC Challenge Cup final. 4-1 win.

India qualified for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, ending a 27-year wait to qualify for the continental championship.

8. India 2-2 Cameroon, 5-4 on penalties — 2012 Nehru Cup Final 🇮🇳

India drew 2-2 with Cameroon after extra time and then won the penalty shootout 5-4.

India was ranked 168 even below nepal and Cameroon was 59

India were ranked way below them at the time, yet managed to beat them in a final.

Even better, this made India three-time consecutive Nehru Cup champions.

9. India 4-1 Thailand — 2019 AFC Asian Cup 🇮🇳

For me, this is one of the most memorable modern Indian football wins.

India absolutely demolished Thailand 4-1 in the Asian Cup, with Sunil Chhetri scoring twice.

It was India's first Asian Cup victory in 55 years

10. India 1-1 Oman, 3-2 on penalties — 2025 CAFA Nations Cup 🇮🇳

India drew 1-1 with Oman in the third-place match of the 2025 CAFA Nations Cup before winning the shootout 3-2.

The result gave India a podium finish on their CAFA debut.:

It was India's first senior men's international win over Oman and, more importantly, India's first podium finish outside South Asia in 55 years, going back to that 1970 Asian Games bronze.

Special mention: Qatar 0-0 India 🇶🇦🇮🇳

.

India holding Qatar to a draw in Doha was one of those results that felt like a win.

Qatar were the reigning Asian champions and India managed to keep them out on their own turf.

1. India 1-0 Iran — 1951 Asian Games Final 🇮🇳

This is where it all started.

India beat Iran in the final of the first Asian Games football tournament, with Sahu Mewalal scoring the only goal.

It was India's first major international football title and the first Asian Games gold medal in football.

2. India 4-2 Australia — 1956 Melbourne Olympics 🇦🇺

One of India's most famous Olympic wins.

India beat the hosts Australia 4-2 in the quarter-final of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, with Neville D'Souza scoring a hat-trick.

This was India's best-ever Olympic run in men's football, taking them all the way to the semi-finals.

3. India 2-1 South Korea — 1962 Asian Games Final 🇮🇳

Probably the most iconic win of India's golden generation.

India had actually lost to South Korea 0-2 earlier in the tournament. Then came the final.

P.K. Banerjee and Jarnail Singh scored as India came from behind to win 2-1.

That gave India its second Asian Games football gold medal.

And this remains India's last Asian Games gold in football.

4. India 2-0 South Korea — 1964 AFC Asian Cup 🇮🇳

India beat South Korea 2-0 in the 1964 Asian Cup, with K. Appalaraju and Inder Singh scoring.

India's best-ever finish at the AFC Asian Cup.

5. India 1-0 Japan — 1970 Asian Games Bronze Medal Match 🇮🇳

A really underrated one.

India beat Japan 1-0 to win the bronze medal at the 1970 Asian Games.

India's last Asian Games football medal.

6. India 1-0 Syria — 2007 Nehru Cup Final 🇮🇳

India's first-ever Nehru Cup title.

7. India 4-1 Tajikistan — 2008 AFC Challenge Cup Final 🇮🇳

Sunil Chhetri hat-trick. AFC Challenge Cup final. 4-1 win.

India qualified for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, ending a 27-year wait to qualify for the continental championship.

8. India 2-2 Cameroon, 5-4 on penalties — 2012 Nehru Cup Final 🇮🇳

India drew 2-2 with Cameroon after extra time and then won the penalty shootout 5-4.

India was ranked 168 even below nepal and Cameroon was 59

India were ranked way below them at the time, yet managed to beat them in a final.

Even better, this made India three-time consecutive Nehru Cup champions.

9. India 4-1 Thailand — 2019 AFC Asian Cup 🇮🇳

For me, this is one of the most memorable modern Indian football wins.

India absolutely demolished Thailand 4-1 in the Asian Cup, with Sunil Chhetri scoring twice.

It was India's first Asian Cup victory in 55 years

10. India 1-1 Oman, 3-2 on penalties — 2025 CAFA Nations Cup 🇮🇳

India drew 1-1 with Oman in the third-place match of the 2025 CAFA Nations Cup before winning the shootout 3-2.

The result gave India a podium finish on their CAFA debut.:

It was India's first senior men's international win over Oman and, more importantly, India's first podium finish outside South Asia in 55 years, going back to that 1970 Asian Games bronze.

Special mention: Qatar 0-0 India 🇶🇦🇮🇳

.

India holding Qatar to a draw in Doha was one of those results that felt like a win.

Qatar were the reigning Asian champions and India managed to keep them out on their own turf.