Football: Why is India struggling to play the world’s most popular sport?
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, 101 East explores why India struggles to compete in the world's most popular sport. The world’s most populous country is hopeless at the world’s most popular ga…
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, 101 East explores why India struggles to compete in the world's most popular sport. The world’s most populous c
Read Full Story at Al Jazeera →Why This Matters
The global football landscape is evolving rapidly, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup expanding to 48 teams—a shift that could open new opportunities for underrepresented regions. Yet India’s persistent struggles on the world stage highlight deeper systemic challenges: a sport economy dominated by cricket, fragmented grassroots development, and a lack of structural investment. The country’s absence from major tournaments isn’t just a sporting failure; it reflects broader questions about how nations prioritize and invest in athletic talent beyond culturally dominant games.
Background Context
Football in India has long been overshadowed by cricket’s economic and cultural dominance, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wielding influence and resources that dwarf those of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Colonial-era infrastructure, such as the erstwhile Calcutta Football League, once laid a foundation, but post-independence neglect and inconsistent governance stifled growth. Even as FIFA’s expanded World Cup format could theoretically offer more pathways to qualification, India’s domestic league—the Indian Super League (ISL)—remains financially precarious, with many clubs operating at a loss and relying on short-term foreign signings rather than sustainable youth development.
What Happens Next
The AIFF’s recent push for a "football revolution" through the *Vision 2047* plan—aimed at qualifying for the 2034 FIFA World Cup—will face its first real test as qualification for 2026 begins. Success hinges on whether the federation can leverage India’s economic growth to attract private investment without repeating past mistakes, such as the ISL’s early reliance on celebrity ownership that prioritized spectacle over long-term talent pipelines. Meanwhile, the global football community is watching to see if India’s qualification struggles will spur reforms or reinforce its reputation as a perennial underdog.
Bigger Picture
India’s football struggles mirror a broader pattern in global sports, where emerging economies often grapple with balancing commercial viability and grassroots development amid dominant domestic leagues. The rise of nations like Japan or South Korea, which transitioned from also-rans to Asian football powerhouses through deliberate investment, offers a potential blueprint—but one that requires political will and private-sector patience. As FIFA’s expansion democratizes tournament access, the question isn’t just whether India can qualify, but
