Asian Games 2026: ESFI Raises Questions After India鈥檚 eFootball Exit
Asian Games 2026 eFootball Exit Follows Unplayed Mongolia Match
India鈥檚 Asian Games 2026 eFootball campaign ended in the group stage after the team received a 0-0 forfeit win against Mongolia but failed to advance to the quarterfinals. The result has since prompted the Esports Federation of India (ESFI) to raise concerns over the circumstances surrounding the match and the qualification calculations.
Danial Patel and Chinmay Sahoo represented India in eFootball, with Patel competing on mobile and Sahoo on console. India had earlier drawn 0-0 against Uzbekistan, meaning the final Group F fixture against Mongolia was important for its hopes of progressing.
Asian Games 2026 eFootball Qualification Decided by Goal Difference
The Mongolia fixture never took place after the Mongolian team failed to report to the Call Room within the stipulated time. India was awarded a 0-0 forfeit victory, giving the team the points but no improvement in goal difference.
Uzbekistan, meanwhile, played Mongolia and won 2-0 across the mobile and console matches. With Uzbekistan and India level on four points, Uzbekistan advanced from Group F because of its superior goal difference. India consequently missed out on the knockout stage.
The result was particularly significant because India needed a positive scoreline against Mongolia to strengthen its goal difference. Instead, the unplayed match left India with a goal difference of zero. India鈥檚 exit also ended hopes of securing the country鈥檚 first official Asian Games esports medal.
ESFI Questions Organisation and Match Procedures
ESFI has questioned more than just the outcome of the Mongolia fixture. According to reports, the federation highlighted several organisational and scheduling issues during the eFootball competition.
ESFI said some matches scheduled for 9am started only after 11:30am because of problems involving an organiser-provided playing device. It also pointed to the Uzbekistan-Mongolia fixture, which was scheduled around 3pm but reportedly began at about 5pm Japan time. ESFI said these delays affected the timing of the India-Mongolia match.
The federation also alleged that Mongolia had not been adequately briefed about the required Call Room reporting time. ESFI further said the Mongolian team manager was unable to leave the preceding match to complete the reporting process for the next fixture. These are allegations raised by ESFI, rather than independently established findings.
ESFI Seeks Clarity on Asian Games 2026 eFootball Rules
ESFI has also questioned the qualification methodology and the way the forfeited match was recorded. The federation sought clarification on why India received no goal difference from the forfeit, how average points and average goal difference were used, and when the ranking methodology was communicated to participating teams.
ESFI said India requested a review from the Olympic Council of Asia, the Esports Organising Committee and competition management. The federation claimed that its request went unanswered and that India did not receive sufficient clarity about the applicable rules within the 15-minute window available for a formal protest.
India reportedly also considered a formal review but did not pursue it because of the required US$500 fee, according to India Today.
Asian Games 2026 eFootball Campaign Ends With Questions
The controversy does not change the official result: Mongolia鈥檚 failure to meet the reporting requirement resulted in a 0-0 forfeit, while Uzbekistan advanced from Group F. There is also no way to know whether India would have won had the match been played.
However, ESFI has called for a transparent review, a written response and appropriate corrective action. The federation has also stated that it respects the competition rules and technical officials while seeking greater clarity over how the qualification system was applied.
India鈥檚 wider esports campaign at the Asian Games continues in other disciplines, including Pok茅mon UNITE, League of Legends and Puyo Puyo Champions.
