FIFA World Cup 2026 | Why India is missing

ANDIn early July, millions stayed up all night to watch Cabo Verde’s spirited performance against defending champions Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Indian football fans wondered how the tiny archipelago off the coast of Africa, only slightly larger than Goa, would stack up against footballing giants, while qualifying for the tournament in India remained a distant dream. The poor state of Indian football was exposed when India was forced to withdraw from the 2026 Asian Games as the men’s team failed to meet the Union Sports Ministry’s criterion of being among the top eight in Asia. India are ranked 24th among the 46-member Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the team has once again failed to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, the continent’s premier competition. India’s bid to make history collapsed in 2024 in the second round of the AFC qualifiers. In Group A along with Qatar, Kuwait and Afghanistan, it failed to secure the top two places needed to advance in World Cup qualification. The Blue Tigers managed just one win – against Kuwait – their first away victory in 22 years.