What Ails Indian Football?

The remarkable rise of Cape Verde on the global football stage has cast an embarrassing light on India's footballing fortunes. This small African island nation, comprising just 10 volcanic islands and home to a population of little over half a million, has progressed to the Round of 32 in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026. They will take on the reigning world champions, Argentina, for a place in the Round of 16. In stark contrast, India, with nearly 1.5 billion people, failed even to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup—the continent's premier football tournament. This is more than a disappointing statistic; it is a matter of national shame, particularly given India's rich footballing history. The Indian team secured the Asian Games football gold medal in 1962 and reached the semi-finals of the 1956 Olympic Games, eventually finishing fourth. India also claimed the bronze medal at the 1970 Asian Games, while the country's junior team were joint champions of the Asian Youth Championship in 1974. However, since then, Indian football has endured a steady and painful decline. Today, the national team struggles even against many of its South Asian neighbours, let alone the continent's leading footballing nations.

This naturally raises a fundamental question: what ails Indian football? In terms of raw talent and public enthusiasm for the game, India is certainly not inferior to many countries that have achieved far greater success. Ironically, many Indian footballers earn more by playing solely in the domestic league than several members of the Cape Verde national team. So, the argument of inadequate financial resources doesn’t hold much water. Some might contend that India lacks modern infrastructure or expertise in contemporary football coaching. This is equally difficult to accept. Most leading Indian clubs now employ experienced foreign coaches, and players benefit from training facilities, sports science support, and professional amenities that were unimaginable a few decades ago. Gone are the days when teams travelled long distances by train and stayed in modest dormitories. Today, players routinely fly to away matches and are accommodated in quality hotels. Despite all these improvements, Indian football continues to underperform, indicating that the problem lies elsewhere.

The real crisis lies in the administration of Indian football. For years, the game has drifted without a clear long-term vision. Poor planning and misplaced priorities have led to the disappearance of numerous tournaments and local leagues that once served as vital breeding grounds for future stars. Equally worrying is the growing obsession with franchise-based football at the expense of the country's rich club culture, which is the backbone of Indian football--nurturing talent and cultivating passionate fan bases. Today, corporate-driven franchise tournaments have increasingly overshadowed this established ecosystem. While franchise football may bring commercial investment and entertainment value, it cannot easily replicate the deep-rooted emotional connection, community support, and player development that established clubs have historically provided. If Indian football is to reclaim its lost glory, policymakers must restore the importance of club football and revive grassroots competitions across the country, enabling it to emerge as a credible force on the global stage.