Indian football's progress is often judged through a single lens - qualification for the FIFA World Cup. But for Bhaichung Bhutia, that benchmark, while aspirational, does not reflect the full reality of where the country stands in the global game.
Speaking in Raipur during a media interaction on the sidelines of Khelo India Tribal Games 2026, the legendary India footballer explained why expectations around World Cup qualification must be viewed in context, especially given the scale and competitiveness of football worldwide.
"Football Is Global. Competition Is Extremely High"
The 'Sikkimese Sniper' - who has scored 40 international games in 104 international outings for Blue Tigers - began by underlining the sheer magnitude of football as a sport. "Football is truly a global sport. Even compared
to the United Nations, FIFA has more member nations. Naturally, the level of competition is extremely high. "
He pointed out that qualification from Asia itself is a major challenge, with only a handful of slots available. "In Asia, only four teams qualify for the FIFA World Cup, and now even Australia competes in Asia. So the competition becomes even tougher. "
In that context, Bhutia believes it is unfair to judge India solely on World Cup qualification.
"It's not that football shouldn't grow in India - it definitely should. But if you look at rankings and global presence, India is still quite low in world football. "
🗣️“I never thought that one day I would play for India and become its captain.” Former Indian men's Football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia
- myKhel.com (@mykhelcom) April 3, 2026
When Indian football needed a hero, Bhaichung Bhutia became the headline 👏👏
👤 104 International Appearances
⚽ 40 Int'l goals
🏆 3x SAFF… pic.twitter.com/SZq4gR9s4q
Signs of Progress Under Khalid Jamil
While advocating patience, Bhutia also acknowledged that there are encouraging signs within the national setup.
Under head coach Khalid Jamil, India have shown glimpses of improvement. Their recent 2-1 win over Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers stood out, particularly because of the early breakthrough by debutant Ryan Williams, who scored in the fourth minute.
The result, though the team's only win in the campaign, marked Jamil's first home victory and offered a sense of direction.
India's climb from 141 to 136 in the FIFA rankings, the joint-third highest rise in Asia alongside Myanmar and Laos, further reflected incremental progress. For Bhutia, these are steps forward - but not enough to mask deeper structural issues.
"Our Grassroots System Is Still Very Weak"
Bhutia was clear about where the real problem lies - at the grassroots level. "The biggest challenge for Indian football is that we have not seriously invested or worked at the grassroots level. Our grassroots system is still very weak. "
He emphasised that identifying and nurturing talent early is crucial, but remains largely neglected. "We need to start making athletes. "
The lack of a strong foundation, he suggested, directly impacts the national team's ability to compete consistently.
"We Celebrate Athletes, But Don't Create Them"
Bhutia also highlighted a deeper cultural issue within Indian sport - the tendency to reward success rather than build it.
"In India, athletes get recognition only after they win medals - crores in prize money, awards and celebrations. " "But when they were struggling, very few supported them. "
Using examples of athletes like Neeraj Chopra, he stressed the need for a systemic shift. "We need to start creating athletes, not just celebrating them after success. "
Passion Over Infrastructure: Lessons from Africa and South America
One of Bhutia's most telling comparisons came when he spoke about footballing cultures in Africa and Latin America. "If you look at Africa and South America, the facilities are much worse than in India. "
"Yet, those regions continue to produce some of the world's best players, as they continue producing players like Ronaldinho and Messi. because the culture is strong. "
For Bhutia, the difference lies in intent, passion, and early engagement - something India is still developing.
The Need for Structural Change
The former captain - who is running Bhaichung Bhutia Football Academy to improve grassroots football - also pointed to systemic gaps in governance and implementation, stressing that policies alone are not enough. "Schemes like Khelo India are very good, but how well are they implemented at the grassroots level in states - that is the real question. "
He added that coordination between stakeholders remains a challenge. "There is no coordination between federations, state associations and government departments. "
A Reality Check for Expectations
As Indian football grows in popularity, expectations from fans have naturally increased. But Bhutia believes those expectations must align with the realities of the system.
"If we don't make these changes, we will keep asking 'why isn't India succeeding?' - but nothing will change. "
His message is not one of pessimism, but of perspective - that progress in football is a long-term process built on strong foundations, not quick results.
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-177540653648717351.webp)
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-177540502870323787.webp)
