India is a country with a rich and diverse culture, history and tradition. It is also a country with a passion for sports, especially cricket. But in recent years, another sport has been gaining popularity and recognition in India: football.
Football was introduced to India by British soldiers in the mid-nineteenth century12. The first football club in India, Calcutta FC, was founded in 18721. The first official tournament, the Durand Cup, was started in 1888 by the then Foreign Secretary of India, Mortimer Durand2. Since then, football has grown and developed in India, with the formation of various leagues, clubs, associations and competitions.
However, despite the long history and the large population of India, the country has not been able to achieve much success in the international arena of football. India has only qualified for the FIFA World Cup once, in 1950, but withdrew due to various reasons1. India has also never won the AFC Asian Cup, the continental championship of Asia, and has only reached the final once, in 1964, where they finished runners-up1.
But things are changing for the better in Indian football. In recent years, India has made significant progress and improvement in various aspects of the game, such as infrastructure, coaching, administration, grassroots development, youth development, women’s football, professional leagues and national teams. India has also received support and assistance from FIFA, the world governing body of football, and the AFC, the Asian Football Confederation, in implementing various programmes and initiatives to promote and nurture the game in the country.
One of the major milestones for Indian football was the hosting of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017, the first FIFA tournament to be held in India. The event was a huge success, attracting a record attendance of 1.3 million spectators, the highest ever for a FIFA U-17 World Cup3. The event also gave a platform for the young Indian players to showcase their talent and potential, and to gain valuable experience and exposure. India also qualified for the AFC Asian Cup in 2019, after a gap of eight years, and performed well, beating Thailand 4-1 and narrowly losing to Bahrain and UAE3.
Another factor that has contributed to the growth and popularity of football in India is the Indian Super League (ISL), a professional league that was launched in 2014. The ISL features eight teams, owned by celebrities, businessmen and sports personalities, and has attracted many foreign players and coaches, some of whom are former stars of the game, such as Alessandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet, Roberto Carlos, Zico and Marco Materazzi1. The ISL has also helped in improving the quality and standard of Indian football, as well as in increasing the fan base and media coverage of the sport. The ISL is recognized by FIFA and AFC as the official league of India, along with the I-League, another professional league that was started in 20071.
The future of Indian football looks bright and promising, as the country aims to become one of the top 10 teams in Asia and to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in the near future. To achieve these goals, India needs to continue working on the short, medium and long term plans, and to overcome the challenges and obstacles that may arise. India also needs to have a unified and coordinated approach, involving all the stakeholders and partners, such as the government, the AIFF, the state associations, the clubs, the coaches, the players, the fans, the sponsors, the media and the FIFA and AFC. India also needs to have a clear vision, mission and strategy, based on the strategic plan that was presented by FIFA and AIFF in 20144.
India has the potential and the passion to become a force to be reckoned with in Asian football, and to make a mark on the global stage. With the right support, guidance and direction, India can achieve its dreams and aspirations, and make the country proud. India is a rising force in Asian football, and the world is watching.
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