For decades, India has been known as the “sleeping giant” of football. With a population of 1.4 billion, the highest in the world, many feel that India is underrepresented in international football. Despite its dominance in cricket, India lags behind in football and has yet to qualify for a FIFA World Cup. While there was optimism from former FIFA president Sepp Blatter in 2012 about waking up the “sleeping giant,” India is still struggling to emerge from its slumber, currently ranked 102nd in the FIFA rankings and not even among the top 10 sides in Asia.
Indian football achieved success in the 1950s and 1960s, winning gold at the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games and finishing fourth at the 1956 Summer Olympics. However, since then, India’s performance on the continental stage has been lackluster. The team has yet to progress past the group stage at the Asian Cup, including their last campaign in 2019.
Under coach Igor Stimac, India faces a challenging campaign at the Asian Cup, with the team grouped with higher-ranked teams like Australia, Syria, and Uzbekistan. While there is optimism around the team’s fearless approach, there is also controversy surrounding Stimac’s remarks about the tournament’s importance.
The lead-up to the Asian Cup saw India win three tournaments in 2023, but the team primarily faced opponents ranked below them. This highlights India’s tendency to play against weaker-ranked opponents, a concern in Indian football. While there has been improvement, particularly in qualifications, the gap between India and other regional teams has grown.
The poor quality of coaching, absence of a robust league, and lack of game time for players has hampered the progress of domestic football in India. There is a need to focus on the development of Indian coaches, aligning league standards with international norms, and providing more opportunities for game time for players in lower divisions.
Ultimately, India’s dreams of playing at the World Cup rest on consistently performing at major youth tournaments and qualifying for continental competitions at all levels. Until that level is reached, the rest is just hyperbole.