What Will Make Indians Follow Indian Football?
Anirudh Singh
Football Agent Licensed by FIFA | Building Sports Careers | Facilitating Elite Training Pathways for Indian Athletes in Europe ??? #FootballCareer #SportsPathways #YouthSports #XdronaSports #EuropeanFootball
Football is not just a sport; it’s an emotion that unites millions across the globe. While cricket dominates the Indian sporting landscape, football is steadily rising in popularity. The 2022 FIFA World Cup final alone was watched by 3.2 crore Indians—a staggering number for a nation whose team wasn’t even participating.
So, what will make Indians follow Indian football as passionately as they follow global football?
Two key things can change the game for Indian football:
The Indian National Team Must Play in Bigger, Tougher Tournaments
Indians love watching their teams compete against the best. We saw it with cricket—once India started winning big tournaments, the sport exploded in popularity.
For football to reach the same heights, the Indian national team must compete in and qualify for elite tournaments—the FIFA World Cup, Copa América (as a guest team), and more competitive AFC tournaments.
?? Imagine India playing against Brazil or Germany in the World Cup. ?? Imagine our team battling it out in a packed stadium with millions watching. ?? Imagine the national anthem playing before a historic knockout match.
Wouldn’t that make every Indian football fan proud?
Right now, India mostly plays in regional tournaments like the SAFF Championship. But we need to set our sights higher. We must regularly play against top-ranked teams and compete on the global stage.
How Do We Get There?
India needs to stop treating global football as a distant dream. We belong on the world stage, and we must get there.
An Indian Player Needs to Shine in a Top European League
Football fans in India adore Messi, Ronaldo, Salah, Neymar, and Son Heung-min. But what if we had an Indian footballer competing at that level?
Football history has proven that one superstar can inspire an entire nation:
? Mohamed Salah put Egypt in the spotlight with his brilliance at Liverpool.
? Gareth Bale transformed Wales into a serious international contender.
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? Son Heung-min made South Korea a footballing powerhouse.
???? What if an Indian footballer played in the Premier League, La Liga, or Bundesliga? What if an Indian player scored in the Champions League? What if kids across the country wore the jersey of an Indian footballer playing in Europe?
Even Sunil Chhetri, India’s greatest modern footballer, has emphasized this. In a recent interview, he stated that more young Indian players should go to Europe to train and compete at a higher level. He understands that exposure to faster, more technical football in Europe will raise the overall standard of Indian football.
That single breakthrough could ignite a revolution in Indian football.
How Can This Happen?
We cannot wait for luck or miracles. We must create our own footballing superstars through hard work and vision.
The Moment for Indian Football is Now
The 2022 FIFA World Cup final attracted 3.2 crore Indian viewers—a clear sign that football has a huge following in India. Now, it’s time to shift that passion toward our own national team and players.
For that to happen, two things must go hand in hand:
? The national team must play in bigger tournaments to prove we belong on the world stage.
? An Indian player must shine in a top European league, inspiring millions to believe in Indian football.
These two factors will fuel each other. A stronger national team will inspire young players to go abroad, and more Indian players in Europe will improve our national team.
The world is watching. The potential is there. The hunger is there.
It’s time to make Indian football a movement. It’s time to create our own footballing legends. It’s time for Indians to follow Indian football—not just as fans, but as believers.
???? Jai Hind. Jai Football. ???
Sr Coach/Director/11.048 connections ?? Bissouma (Spurs)/Bensebaini (Dortmund)/Haidara (Leipzig)/Kone (Man Utd)... ?? Arsenal/Ajax/Pescara/Leicester,... ????: Koeman/Bielsa/Legrottaglie/Cocu/Van Der Sar
2 周Well said Anirudh but I disagree on 1 small point. Playing or training from a younger age in Europe is not necessary. Better training here is necessary. As you also know, by European law it's not that easy for a non EU player to train and play there at a young age. So, improve the coaches and grassroots training levels here to a top level and then send them to Europe. But there are too many local factors stopping the players from going.