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The State of Indian Football

The sport of football in India is riding a roller-coaster of hope, frustration, and gradual evolution. The senior men’s team, known as the India national football team, is striving to find its footing internationally despite a large population and passionate fanbase.

Here are some key highlights:

India participated in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 as an invited team, drawn in Group B with heavyweights including IR Iran and Tajikistan.

They achieved a historic bronze medal at the CAFA Nations Cup, following a thrilling penalty shoot-out win over Oman.

Despite this, the broader picture remains bleak: India has struggled in recent matches, with just one win in the last 16 games and only five goals across two years.

The latest FIFA ranking has India at 133rd, marking one of their lowest points on record and raising questions about long-term growth and competitiveness.

🎯 What’s Working

Youth and age-group tournaments are yielding results — for example, India’s under-19 side clinched the 2025 SAFF U‑19 Championship title by beating Bangladesh in the final.

Participation in regional tournaments and exposure to tougher opponents is increasing, which helps in experience and benchmarking.

There is an increasing focus on grassroots academies and development programmes, which is pivotal for long-term progress.

🧱 What Needs Urgent Fixing

Conversion & Attack Issues: The senior team is creating chances but failing to convert them. The lack of goal-scoring runs deep.

Coaching and Strategy: Frequent changes in the coaching staff and lack of continuity have left the team in flux.

Domestic Ecosystem: While leagues like the Indian Super League (ISL) have brought attention and investment, systemic planning, local talent pathways and infrastructure still lag behind top-Asian nations.

Fan/Culture Engagement: With cricket dominating, football still fights for sustained, national attention as a major sport. This affects sponsorship, media coverage, and grassroots pull.

🔮 Looking Ahead: What to Expect

The team will aim to build on the CAFA success as a springboard for the upcoming qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers. Strong performances there will be key.

A focus on younger players with hunger and potential — a generational shift may take place to replace aging stalwarts and re-energise the squad.

Domestic leagues need to strengthen their club-academies, youth-systems and give more consistent opportunities for home-grown talent.

Infrastructure—both physical (stadiums, fields) and institutional (coaching, analytics)—must ramp up to match the ambition.

✅ Final Take

Indian football finds itself at a crossroads. On one hand, recent glimpses of promise (like the bronze at CAFA) shine bright. On the other, systemic weaknesses risk undermining long-term ambitions. For fans, players and stakeholders, the message is clear: success at youth level and regional tournaments must translate into consistent performance at senior international level. If India can make that leap, the next 3-5 years could define a new chapter for “the beautiful game” in India.