Indian show ‘Real Kashmir Football Club’ earns Emmy nomination
Sony LIV series "Real Kashmir Football Club", inspired by the true story of Jammu and Kashmir's first professional football club, has been nominated for the 2026 International Emmy Award in the Drama Series category.
The nominations were announced on Wednesday, with the Indian series competing alongside the UK's "A Thousand Blows", France's "Carême" and Argentina's "Menem" in the category.
Starring Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Manav Kaul, "Real Kashmir Football Club" follows two men who set out to build a professional football team in Kashmir.
What begins as a shared dream develops into a story of determination, community and the opportunities that football creates for people around them.
Ayyub said he hoped the Emmy recognition would help the series reach a wider audience.
"It is always special to see our labour of love reach people and receive recognition. This was an important and relevant story for us to tell, a story of resilience, courage and hard work," the actor said in a statement.
"We dedicate this recognition to the people of Kashmir, their resilience and the struggles they have endured. I hope this nomination helps the story travel further and reach a wider audience," he added.
Mahesh Mathai, showrunner and co-director of the series, said the team was honoured by the nomination.
"When you come across a great story, don't let it pass you by, grab a hold of it, nurture it, love it, and push it through that long tunnel. It will find the light. We are honoured that this special series has found global recognition through an Emmy nomination," Mathai said.
Produced by Jaya Entertainment and Oshun Entertainment, the series features an ensemble cast including Abhishant Rana, Muazzam Bhat, Priya Chauhan, Anmol Thakeria Dhillon, Afnan Fazli and Shaheem Bhat.
Filmmaker Rajesh Mapuskar is the other showrunner alongside Mathai. The script has been written by Mathai, Simaab Hashmi, Dhruv Narang, Danish Renzu and Umang Vyas.
"Real Kashmir Football Club" premiered on Sony LIV on December 9, 2025.
