This article is written by Aditya Tripathi: 13.06.2025

There's a quiet pain that Indian football (ranked 126) fans have learned to live with. You feel it when Bangladesh (ranked 185) held the National team to a 0-0 draw. You feel it when a player gives everything on the pitch, only for the system to let him down off it. And you think it most when hope starts to flicker and then dies out again.

We are a country of over a billion people. We pack cricket stadiums, yes, but football has its own heartbeat here. From the noisy, electric stands of Salt Lake and Kochi to kids juggling old footballs on dusty grounds in Imphal or Thrissur, the passion is undeniable. And yet, here we are. Losing to Hong Kong. Struggling against teams we once brushed aside. Waiting for miracles instead of demanding better.

A Glorious Past, Forgotten Too Easily

Final of the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup between Tajikistan and
India at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi on August 13, 2008

Let's not pretend India never had a footballing soul. Ask any old-school fan, and they'll tell you about the 1950s and 60s. The days of Syed Abdul Rahim Sahib. The 1956 Melbourne Olympics, where we finished fourth. The 1962 Asian Games gold. Indian players, some barefoot, some barely equipped, took on giants and held their own. That wasn't luck. That was vision.

The Indian national football team. Gold medalists of the 1962 Asian Games.

Somewhere along the way, that vision got buried under layers of bureaucracy and politics. Instead of investing in the future, we started reminiscing about the past. And nostalgia, as every fan knows, doesn't win you matches.

Recent Lows That Hurt More Than We Admit

Let's be honest, the past year has been rough.

We drew to Bangladesh. Not once. And not just by chance. They looked more organised. More confident.
We were beaten by Hong Kong. A wake-up call? Maybe. But we keep hitting snooze.
In regional tournaments like the SAFF and the AFC qualifiers, we barely scrape by. And then act like it's progress.

While nations like Japan and South Korea have become regulars on the World Cup stage, Uzbekistan just qualified for their first-ever FIFA World Cup, a massive achievement that shows what's possible with planning and ambition. Meanwhile, India struggles to beat teams ranked below 150.

A Federation That's Lost Its Way

The AIFF (All India Football Federation) is supposed to be the brain behind the operation. But lately, it feels like it doesn't even have a heartbeat.

In 2022, AIFF was suspended by FIFA. Yes India. Suspended. Over administrative chaos.
Coaches come and go. So do plans. So does accountability.
Youth development? Barely structured. Kids with potential are left to figure it out on their own.

It's hard not to feel frustrated when there's talent all around in Mizoram, Manipur, Kerala, Bengal, but no roadmap for them to follow.

OCI Players: An Untapped Resource Still Ignored

One of the most frustrating debates in Indian football today is about OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) players. There are talented footballers of Indian origin playing in leagues across Europe, North America, and beyond. They train in better systems, are exposed to high-level tactics, and could bring much-needed sharpness to the national squad.

Indian-origin Austrian forward Manprit Sarkaria

Yet, India's stance on allowing OCIs to represent the national team has been painfully rigid.

Countries like Algeria, Morocco, and even the Philippines have benefited enormously from embracing their diaspora.
Meanwhile, India stands firm on outdated rules, denying talented youngsters who want to play for the country the opportunity to contribute.

It's not about shortcuts. It's about smart choices. A mixed squad with domestic talent and diaspora experience could raise standards across the board. But the reluctance is costing us.

ISL: Glitz Without the Grassroots?

The Indian Super League brought some excitement, no doubt. Big-name signings. Flashy promos. Better stadiums. But has it really made Indian football stronger?

The clubs are unstable.
There's no real promotion or relegation system.
Youth development feels more like a checkbox than a priority.

The ISL might look good on a poster. But underneath? It's not growing roots deep enough to last.

Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata, on an ISL matchday

What Was Missing? Real Urgency

When India loses a game, most of the country shrugs. We get a few angry tweets, then it's back to trust the process talk.

But here's the truth: we're not building a system. We're building excuses.

There's no national pressure on AIFF. No sustained media demand. No deep reform. And without that urgency, without that fire, we'll keep going in circles.

So, What Now?

If we care- really care - here's what needs to happen:

Reform AIFF. Get football people in charge. Not just administrators.
Invest at the bottom. Local academies, better scouting, and training grounds.
Allow OCI players. Let talented diaspora athletes contribute to the national project.
Teach modern football. Bring in new coaching methods and actually apply them.
Make the national team the top priority. Not just a side show for social media.
Respect the fans. Include them. Listen to them. This is their game too.

Final Whistle?

Indian football isn't dead. It's just stuck, caught between what it once was and what it could be.

The fans are still here. The kids are still dreaming. But unless the people in power stop treating football like a side project, those dreams will keep dying early.

It's not the loss to Hong Kong that should scare us - it's the direction this team is heading.

Indian Football: The Dilemma We Dont Want to Talk About