India's football gap draws scrutiny as World Cup begins
Al Jazeera’s 101 East says India’s national team and top league are struggling despite strong amateur interest in football.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
2 min read
India’s struggle to make headway in football is receiving fresh attention as the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets under way. Al Jazeera’s 101 East reports that the country’s national team remains outside the sport’s leading tier while its domestic game faces commercial strain.
The programme says India, the world’s most populous country, has not converted broad participation and fan interest into international strength. Its national side is ranked outside the top 100 football nations, according to Al Jazeera.
That ranking underscores the gap between India’s size and its standing in the sport. Football commands global attention during the World Cup, but Al Jazeera says India has continued to struggle for results and recognition at the highest levels.
Domestic league under pressure
Al Jazeera reports that India’s leading football league is facing serious difficulties. The league has been left without a sponsor and had to sell its broadcast rights for a sharply reduced price, according to 101 East.
Those problems point to a weak commercial base for the professional game. Al Jazeera says the top league’s troubles have deepened at the same time the national team remains far from the upper ranks of world football.
The report does not present the issue as a lack of people playing the sport. It says football continues to attract amateur players across India, even as the organised professional structure struggles to produce a stronger national side.
Amateur interest has not translated into elite success
Al Jazeera’s account draws a contrast between grassroots enthusiasm and the performance of India’s elite football system. Amateur football is described as active, but the national team and top league have not matched that energy with results or commercial momentum.
The timing gives the question wider visibility. With global attention fixed on the World Cup, 101 East examines why India remains on the margins of a sport followed and played across much of the world.
Al Jazeera published the report on June 13, 2026, as part of a 25-minute 101 East programme. The episode focuses on why Indian football has struggled to succeed despite the country’s scale and continued interest among players outside the professional ranks.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.