India is now the world’s most populous country. And football is arguably the world’s most popular sport. Naturally, one would think there should be a natural correlation between these two things, right? Well, as enthusiastic as the Indian population tends to be, the fact is that the country has never made it to a World Cup.
However, the enthusiasm remains, and they may just have their day yet. And in fact, football has played an important role in the country in other respects, including bringing diverse factions together to inspire the creation of the Indian army. Let’s take a closer look at India’s involvement in football over the years, and see where they may be headed.
Early beginnings
Indians started playing football in the 1800s. Like many of the country’s sports, it was brought over by British colonists, and gradually started to spread among the population. In the late 19th century, the Indians started an international football tournament called the Durand Cup. The Durand Cup is actually the third oldest international football tournament in the world, and it quickly became a catalyst for the sport’s growth in the country.
In the following years, more teams started to be formed, and at the end of the 19th century the first team was formed that has remained a part of Indian football to this day, Mohun Began AC.
India’s peak era
India’s first qualification for a World Cup, which came in 1950, came under unusual circumstances. Several teams withdrew, and India earned a slot by default but were later disqualified. There was an odd controversy around the question of whether players’ insistence on playing barefoot had been the reason for disqualification, as this was the manner in which the team was used to playing.
In the following years, Indian football started picking up pace. With a new head coach, Sayed Abdul Rahim, India started outpacing its neighbors and soon became the leading team in all of Asia. They became the victors in quite a few regional tournaments in the 1950s and 60s. India also gained a respectable finish at the 1956 Olympics, although they finished just short of a medal.
Leadership changes
With the departure of the country’s star coach, India started receding in the rankings. Immediately after Rahim’s death, Indian football suddenly found itself in a very difficult position and the team finished dead last in the 1966 Asian Games. Their troubles continued in successive years as they scrambled to keep themselves together and find new leadership.
Towards the mid-80s, India began to recoup to some extent and managed a few victories among Asian rivals. They created a national football league in the 1990s. And the team has risen since then, but never quite to the level of reaching World Cup capability.
State of football today
Although India has yet to fully prove its merit on the international scene, the sport remains popular among fans throughout the country. People gather in pubs or other common meeting points to watch tournaments, and conversations surrounding the sport are a way of bringing people together.
With the rise of more and more clubs for young players, it could well be that India’s best days are still ahead. In fact, in the most recent World Cup, it was recorded that the second highest number of fans from any particular country were Indians.
In fact, Indians gather to cheer on other teams, even if they might represent distant parts of the world. Famous players like Ronaldo and Messi remain favorites among Indians, and they continue to inspire Indians even from remote places. And they will wager on their favorite players, too. You can easily download the best sports betting app in India and have access to all the best sports that you can take a chance of winning on.
What does the future hold?
Will football ever come close to matching cricket in popularity in the country? The future will tell. But what can be said is that the Indian population is enthusiastic one and ready to support future players if and when they do get an eventual moment of glory. It is now up to the national league to provide adequate funding and support so that the team can make its move.
