Football: Why is India struggling to play the world’s most popular sport?

Article excerpt

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins, India remains conspicuously absent from global football's biggest stage. The country of 1.4 billion people has never qualified for the World Cup, a striking gap given its sporting ambitions and resources. Al Jazeera's 101 East investigates the systemic barriers, from inadequate infrastructure and coaching to limited grassroots development, that have left India unable to compete at elite levels. The documentary examines why a nation that dominates cricket has struggled to build a credible football program despite decades of effort and investment.