It is the world’s most populous nation. But when it comes to the world’s most popular game, India is nowhere to be seen at the most prestigious finals and championships. The recent news that the Blue Tigers have dropped, once again, in the FIFA world rankings was disappointing – but not exactly a surprise.
India is currently ranked 136th out of 210 nations, just ahead of Botswana and ten places below the tiny Faroe Islands (which boasts a population of just 56, 000). It is fair to say that the best sportsbook online markets for next year’s World Cup finals never had India down as a potential winner – even before the team crashed out of the qualifiers over 12 months ago.
There are some obvious reasons why India is not a global football power. But it seems as though even the law of averages would see the team doing better than it has ever done before. So, why is India so bad at football? And is there anything that can be done to improve the situation?
Historical Achievements
For anyone new to the idea of Indian football, the current malaise is nothing new. India was considered one of the best teams in Asia during the 1950s and 1960s, and almost played at the 1950 FIFA World Cup, but global success has never arrived. Asian Cup appearances have been more common in the last 15 years, but there has been little progress made.
As more money has flooded into the international game, India has been left behind. Smaller nations in Asia have focused on the sport in a much more productive way, with India now not even considered a potential player. Those heady days of the 1950s are a very long time ago now, and the most recent ranking is just the latest setback for the sport in the country.
Recent Results
The reason for India’s drop in the rankings was its inability to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup. After failing in its quest for a World Cup place, India faced Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangladesh for a chance to earn a berth in the continental championship. Even though all three of those nations lie below India, rankings-wise, just two draws from the first four games means that India already has no chance of qualifying.
The appointment of Khalid Jamil, the first head coach from India since 2012, has done little to improve the team’s standing, although he was able to take the Blue Tigers to a third-place finish in the CAFA Nations Cup this year. The next two games are dead rubbers, and we will wait to see what happens in the next qualifying campaign.
Lack of Football Culture
The very obvious main reason for the lack of football success for India is that the country is not really a “football country”. Apart from pockets of regions in the south and north-east, there is little interest on a scale that might make a difference. Cricket is king in India, and football comes much lower down the list of sports for most people.
There is a growing interest in the big global events, particularly European competitions, but even with the growth of the national leagues, there is little in the way of local support – and the culture that comes along with that. The proud history of Indian football has been forgotten to the point that the rest of the world does not consider it a threat.
Develop Infrastructure
So, what can be done to help the growth of football and India – and for the national team to rise up through the rankings? One of the first points on that agenda should be to develop the infrastructure of the game in the country. Although there has been some growth in this area, there is still a lot of work to be done.
More facilities need to be built to enable young children to play on proper pitches and with good equipment. There has not been enough interest from those running the game in India in tapping into the potential that is here. Everything begins with the grassroots game and, with some long-term thinking, the young players of today might be able to climb the heights of football stardom in the years and generations to come.
Longer Seasons, More Games
Although the rise of the Indian Super League and the end of the wrangle with the I-League for top-tier status have raised the profile of professional football in India, there is still not enough being done to grow the game. There has been a lack of investment further down the club pyramid that has cut off the elite from the rest of the country.
The league seasons are not really long enough to keep engagement high, and the problem is even graver when you look at youth grade football. Although some grassroots clubs are doing their best to further the game, children are not playing as many games as their European counterparts, and are falling behind because of a lack of development.
Figure 2 Grassroots facilities and the football infrastructure need to improve - Source: Pexels
Asia First, Then the World
It is obvious that the to-do list for Indian football is an extensive one. It is not enough to bemoan the fact that India is so far down the FIFA rankings without providing potential solutions for the situation. One idea would be to concentrate on small steps, rather than expecting World Cup qualification any time soon.
Indian coaches might think about looking into drafting in dual-citizenship professionals from around the world to improve the squad (no member of the current squad plays outside of India) in the short term. From there, there should be full concentration on a realistic attempt to qualify for the 2031 Asian Cup, if the bid to host the tournament fails.
If the infrastructure and facilities can improve, at the same time as the current team progresses over the next few years, India might be able to climb the rankings. Becoming more of a power in Asia can then become a realistic hope, with a possible World Cup appearance still remaining the ultimate long-term goal.