India Misses 2026 World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup as Ranking Slips to 136th

3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 16

India's men's team again fell short in Asian qualifying, missing both the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 AFC Asian Cup after failing to sustain a brief 2023 revival.
Former captain Baichung Bhutia and 1970 Asian Games medalist Shyam Thapa blamed the setback on a weak grassroots system, saying India has talent but lacks a long-term development ecosystem.
The scale of the gap is stark: India are 136th in FIFA's rankings, while World Cup debutants Uzbekistan and Jordan are 52nd and 63rd and have already reached the expanded 48-team tournament.
Pressure has also grown on the All India Football Federation, whose Vision 2047 has faded as the Indian Super League faced delays, no commercial partner and a curtailed season.
For now, India's more realistic target is to qualify consistently for the Asian Cup, though AIFF-backed eligibility changes for overseas citizens could eventually widen the player pool.