Because the FIFA World Cup 2026 reached its last week, Gourav Roy, an Indian software program engineer dwelling in San Francisco, drove greater than 9,650 kilometres (6,000 miles) throughout the US to attend each the semifinals and the ultimate.
For Roy, it was the following neatest thing to what he had grown up dreaming of: seeing India play within the World Cup.
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However the potential for that dream coming true is wanting ever extra distant as deep-rooted systemic points and the failure to implement reforms have left the nation of 1.45 billion ranked a lowly 138th on the planet, failing to even qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup.
“I’ve realized to like with out expectation. That’s the burden of the Indian soccer fan,” stated Roy.
Whereas nations with tiny populations like Curacao and Cape Verde certified for the 2026 World Cup, India stays a main instance of wasted potential within the planet’s hottest sport.
These working in Indian soccer say the issues vary from poor youth growth methods, an absence of recognition, and a nationwide federation (the All India Soccer Federation) struggling to implement a uniform imaginative and prescient with a unfastened patchwork of state associations.
“Should you ask me, to scrub up the system and reorganise it is going to take a full cycle of 4 years,” Ravi Puskur, the CEO of Indian Tremendous League (ISL) membership FC Goa, advised Reuters.
“Then it’s one other 20-25 years to get us to the World Cup.”
Confined to pockets
In cricket-mad India, soccer stays common solely in a handful of states like West Bengal, Goa, Kerala, Mizoram and Manipur.
The ISL, launched in 2014 with the backing of Reliance Industries, one among India’s largest conglomerates, tried to vary that with restricted success.
In 2025, the AIFF and Reliance didn’t renew their partnership as negotiations stalled amid a Supreme Court docket case to implement a brand new structure for the federation.
This yr, underneath new administration led by golf equipment, the ISL is but to finalise a broadcaster and announce fixtures.
NorthEast United CEO Mandar Tamhane, who beforehand led Bengaluru FC, stated golf equipment alone can’t repair Indian soccer.
“You’re speaking concerning the authorities, company India… it must be a collective effort,” he stated.
“The federation has to verify the golf equipment, state associations, the corporates and different stakeholders all work collectively.”
Weak youth growth
AIFF govt committee member and Mizoram’s sports activities minister Lalnghinglova Hmar stated the federal government will help with infrastructure, however for Indian soccer to enhance, the nation’s youth growth system wants a drastic overhaul.
“In South Korea and Japan, children play over 40 aggressive matches per season. That is lacking in India,” he stated.
“We begin growing gamers too late. Most under-15 gamers get solely 12 to fifteen aggressive video games yearly. Some get referred to as as much as the youth nationwide camp after enjoying lower than 20 aggressive video games.
“We’re brief on certified coaches. Many states don’t actually have a youth league… we simply can’t compete like that.”
However India’s measurement, the very factor that makes it a sexy sports activities market and led to the large success of cricket’s Indian Premier League, additionally makes it tough for the AIFF to implement widespread reforms.
“If even half the states had been doing a correct job at grassroots, issues would develop,” Hmar added.
The uncertainty over the ISL, which compelled some groups to droop participant salaries final yr, additionally dealt a blow to the golf equipment’ growth programmes.
“Should you can present stability, step by step the funding will improve,” Puskur stated.
A restricted window
With India bidding to host the 2036 Olympics, the federal government is contemplating the launch of a “sports activities passport” that enables Indian-origin athletes to symbolize the nation.
The AIFF management has backed the initiative, believing it is going to assist enhance the nationwide workforce’s performances. However the proposal continues to be removed from turning into legislation, and Hmar stated Indian soccer must act quick.
“The opposite nations aren’t sitting idle… if we don’t match them, even when we enhance, we are going to stay the place we’re,” he stated.
Whereas Indian soccer hangs in limbo, followers like Roy can solely reside in hope.
“They’re speaking a couple of 64-team World Cup,” he stated. “It received’t reward us something, however extra locations imply extra hope.”
