Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 01:06pm on 17 Jun 2026,Wednesday Sports
As the FIFA World Cup 2026 captures global attention, India remains absent from the tournament despite its population of 1.4 billion and passionate football fan base. Former captain Baichung Bhutia says India has the talent but lacks a strong grassroots system and long-term planning. The national team has slipped to 136th in FIFA rankings and failed to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. Experts point to poor football infrastructure, administrative challenges and competition from cricket as major obstacles. While AIFF hopes reforms and overseas Indian players can help, World Cup qualification remains a distant goal. (PC: BBC)
