Building for the Future: How Indian Football Can Climb the FIFA Ladder

India's national football team has dropped from FIFA rankings of 100 in December 2023 to 127 by April 2025, revealing entrenched systemic failures more than on-field performance. With greater investment and the TV visibility dividend of the Indian Super League, underlying problems remain. Grassroots development continues to be decentralised with uneven scouting, limited access to decent academies, and low-quality coaching hindering talent development. Constant rotation of the coaching team creates tactical continuity problems, with players in a process of constant adaptation instead of actual development.

 

The local league system does not provide the depth and competitiveness to condition players for big-pressure international games. Psychological conditioning and experience of important friendlies are limited, leading to poor pressure performances. Most importantly, the absence of sports science—nutrition, fitness, and psychological support—results in Indian players being short when pitted against stronger overseas opposition.

 

Experts and ex-players emphasize that in the absence of a common vision, strong grassroots investment, and timely incorporation of sports science, India's football dreams will remain unfulfilled. The necessity for structural reform has never been greater.

 

Source: Times Now