Football is often referred to as a beautiful game which has a rich history around the world. The success of Indian football clubs abroad paved the way for the establishment of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in 1937. This provided a pivotal moment in the development of football in India.
In 1938, the Indian football team was invited on an extensive international tour, visiting Australia by the Australian Football Association. The Indian team was led by Karuna Bhattacharya, and played a total of 17 matches, including friendly encounters with the Australian national side. This tour was a significant milestone in the history of India’s football journey.
The 1948 London Olympics marked India’s first major international tournament but, unfortunately, India’s decision to play barefoot gathered attention and admiration. The players’ determination to showcase their skills without traditional football boots endeared them to fans and mediocre.
The year from the 1950s to the 1960s is referred to as the ‘Golden Era’ of Indian football as, during that year under the guidance of coach Syed Abdul Rahim, India achieved significant success in Asian football during this period, one such was securing Gold in the 1951 Asian Games by defeating Iran 1-0 in the final, marking a watershed moment in Indian football history.
Now let us talk about the modern history of Indian football.
In recent years, Indian football has seen both high and low. Qualification for the 2011 Asia Cup Football after a 27-year absence was a significant achievement. India’s win over Thailand in the 2019 Asia Cup showed promise for the future. Recently, India won the 2023 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship against Nepal, securing a convincing 3-0 victory. Indian football success also saw the rise of Sunil Chettri in the history of Indian football. On June 28, 2023 Chettri led India to victory in the Tri-National Friendly Tournament against Kyrgyzstan Republic by 2-0.
Not only senior football but at U-17 level, Indian football has excelled very much this year. In the U-16 SAFF Championship, the Indian U-17 team displayed exceptional talent by winning all their matches without conceding any goals.
I believe that Indian football has a bright future in front of them,as the Indian Super League has managed to do what the other leagues and national team matches have not done. Adding to this, AIFF also launched Vision 2047 for Indian football. It will be helpful in making India among the top four footballing nations in Asia and the AIFF will try to improve the quality of football in India through Coach Education Programmes.
India’s current ranking in the FIFA chart is 102nd, whereas the Women’s team stands at 61st.
