India is a landmass of immense talent and we can find all kinds of sportsperson here. But don't know why, India has not been able to prove its worth at the global level. Apart from cricket, hockey, wrestling, kabaddi and badminton, we are still struggling to prove ourselves at the international platform and we cannot blame a single reason for that. However, since the last few years, our country has seen a major development in all kinds of sports. One such sport is football and we have started to show impact. Let us analyse how much more time will it take us to qualify for the world cup.
It was a good year for the Indian football in 2017. Not only did the country host its first ever FIFA event - the under 17 World Cup - but the youngsters who represented India mesmerized critics and fans alike with their skills.
Also, the Indian national football team ranked 102th spot in the FIFA rankings. The Sunil Chhetri led team remained unbeaten for majority of the year. In the process, India qualified for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, the biggest continental tournament. Their impressive run was reflected in their much improved FIFA ranking.
The local tournament - ISL - is also gaining much popularity with the fourth edition of the ISL becoming a five-month tournament, an increase from the previous three editions which lasted two months. The league also became bigger with the addition of two new teams.
However, there is still time for the Indian football team to show its impact in international tournaments. These are some reasons for the low stature of the team:
Lack of professional approach by the governing bodies.
Less interest in Indian people for football.
Less number of professional players.
Lack of financial support.
Lack of media coverage.
Too much political interference.
However, there are some positive aspects as well which show clear signs of the rise in the popularity of football in our country.
Football became India's second highest viewed game after cricket.
Introduction of ISL.
Big corporate houses showing interest in investment.
International clubs showing interest in Indian players.
Famous celebrities promoting football.
So it is clear that Indian football is definitely on a rise and if everyone keeps working hard on it, that day is not far from us when we will be sitting in our homes infront of televisions and cheering for India in the FIFA world cup.
