The dream of seeing the Indian national football team compete on the world’s grandest stage, the FIFA World Cup, remains a tantalizing yet persistently distant aspiration, even as the tournament for 2026 nears its conclusion. For passionate supporters like Gourav Roy, a software engineer who undertook a monumental 9,650-kilometer journey across the United States to witness the semifinals and final, the experience offers a vicarious thrill. Yet, the reality for Indian football is a stark contrast to such fervent fandom, marked by deep-seated systemic issues and a persistent failure to implement crucial reforms, leaving the nation of 1.45 billion people languishing at a global ranking of 138th. The team’s struggles are so profound that they did not even qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, a regional tournament considered a stepping stone for global qualification.
"I’ve learned to love without expectation. That’s the burden of the Indian football fan," Roy remarked, encapsulating the sentiment of millions who follow the sport despite its perennial struggles. This sentiment is amplified when observing nations with significantly smaller populations, such as Curacao and Cape Verde, achieving World Cup berths, while India, a country brimming with potential, exemplifies a profound case of untapped talent in the world’s most popular sport.
The obstacles facing Indian football are multifaceted, according to those involved in the sport. Experts point to a chronically underdeveloped youth development pipeline, a general lack of widespread popularity compared to other sports, and a national federation, the All India Football Federation (AIFF), grappling with internal disarray. The AIFF struggles to forge a cohesive vision, often finding itself at odds with a fragmented network of state associations, each with its own agenda and operational style.
Ravi Puskur, CEO of Indian Super League (ISL) club FC Goa, offered a sobering assessment of the path ahead. "If you ask me, to clean up the system and reorganise it will take a full cycle of four years," Puskur told Reuters. He added a stark projection: "Then it’s another 20-25 years to get us to the World Cup." This timeline underscores the magnitude of the challenge and the long-term commitment required for any meaningful progress.
Football’s Pockets of Passion
In a nation overwhelmingly dominated by cricket, football’s appeal in India remains largely confined to specific geographical pockets. States such as West Bengal, Goa, Kerala, Mizoram, and Manipur are traditional strongholds where the sport enjoys significant local following and engagement. Efforts to broaden this appeal have been undertaken, most notably with the launch of the Indian Super League (ISL) in 2014. Backed by Reliance Industries, one of India’s largest business conglomerates, the ISL was envisioned as a catalyst for professionalizing the sport and increasing its national footprint.
However, the ISL’s impact has been less transformative than anticipated. A significant development occurred in 2025 when the AIFF and Reliance did not renew their partnership, with negotiations reportedly stalling amidst ongoing legal proceedings concerning the implementation of a new constitution for the federation, initiated through a Supreme Court case. This period of transition has left the league in a state of flux. As of the current reporting period, the ISL, now operating under new leadership primarily driven by its clubs, has yet to finalize a broadcaster or announce its fixture list for the upcoming season.
Mandar Tamhane, CEO of NorthEast United FC and a former head of Bengaluru FC, emphasized that the responsibility for revitalizing Indian football cannot rest solely on the shoulders of individual clubs. "You’re talking about the government, corporate India… it has to be a collective effort," Tamhane stated. He stressed the imperative for the AIFF to act as a unifying force, ensuring that clubs, state associations, corporate entities, and other stakeholders work in concert. "The federation has to make sure the clubs, state associations, the corporates and all other stakeholders all work together," he elaborated.
The Crucial Need for Robust Youth Development
Lalnghinglova Hmar, an executive committee member of the AIFF and the Sports Minister of Mizoram, acknowledged the government’s potential role in providing infrastructure. However, he unequivocally stated that a dramatic overhaul of the country’s youth development system is paramount for Indian football to ascend.
"In South Korea and Japan, kids play over 40 competitive matches per season. This is missing in India," Hmar explained, highlighting a critical deficit in structured competition for young players. He elaborated on the shortcomings: "We start developing players too late. Most under-15 players get only 12 to 15 competitive games yearly. Some get called up to the youth national camp after playing less than 20 competitive games."
The scarcity of qualified coaching personnel further exacerbates the problem. "We’re short on qualified coaches. Many states don’t even have a youth league… we just can’t compete like that," Hmar added. The sheer scale of India, while an advantage for sports marketing and driving the success of phenomena like the Indian Premier League in cricket, presents a formidable challenge for the AIFF in implementing uniform and effective reforms across the nation. "If even half the states were doing a proper job at grassroots, things would grow," Hmar noted, underscoring the localized nature of current development efforts.
Adding to the instability, the recent uncertainty surrounding the ISL, which led to some clubs suspending player salaries last year, has had a detrimental impact on the development programs of individual teams. Puskur commented on the need for stability, stating, "If you can provide stability, gradually the investment will increase." This sentiment points to a vicious cycle where lack of confidence deters investment, which in turn hinders development.
A Narrowing Window of Opportunity
Amidst these domestic challenges, India is also pursuing a bid to host the 2036 Olympics. As part of this endeavor, the government is reportedly considering the introduction of a "sports passport" initiative. This program would permit athletes of Indian origin, who may have been born or trained abroad, to represent the country in international competitions. The AIFF leadership has expressed support for this idea, believing it could potentially bolster the national team’s performance by incorporating a wider pool of talent.
However, the "sports passport" proposal is far from becoming law, and Hmar stressed the urgency for Indian football to act decisively. "The other nations aren’t sitting idle… if we don’t match them, even if we improve, we will remain where we are," he cautioned. This sentiment highlights the competitive global landscape where progress requires not just internal development but also keeping pace with international advancements.
While the future of Indian football remains in a state of uncertainty, fans like Gourav Roy continue to hold onto hope. The expansion of the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams in future editions, while not a guaranteed pathway, offers a sliver of optimism. "It won’t gift us anything, but more places mean more hope," Roy concluded, reflecting the enduring spirit of the Indian football supporter. The dream persists, fueled by the belief that with systemic change and sustained effort, India might one day join the elite ranks of global footballing nations. The path, however, is undeniably arduous and fraught with the need for fundamental structural reforms.
