With football advancing by leaps and bounds in the country, India’s first woman International Olympic Committee member Nita Ambani has said it is her dream to see the Indian football team qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In the last couple of years, India had moved up to 97th in the FIFA world rankings–their highest since so far– after their 13-match unbeaten streak that started in 2016 and lastest till 2017. However, the Blue Tigers have now slipped down to 108 in the rankings.
In a candid conversation with India Today, Nita Ambani said she was hopeful of India making the 2026 FIFA World Cup cut given that edition of the tournament will be a 48-nation affair and 8 teams from Asia will be playing at the global event.
“My dream is to see India qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. There is a 48-nation spot, Asia will have 8 spots. India are now ranked 19th in Asia. If we move up to the 12th slot in Asia, we have a huge opportunity knocking on our door. It would be like a dream come true to see India take its rightful place in the world,” Nita Ambani said.
“The next 2 years, we just have to move up to the 12th position. India are playing well now,” she added.
Nita Ambani, who is also the chairperson of Football Sports Development Ltd that operates Indian Super League (ISL), said the football league has been a huge success in India and has given India a number of new footballing heroes.
“Before ISL, there was Baichung (Bhutia) or Chhetri (Sunil) as Indian household names. But today you have discovered so many footballing heroes in the country. You have a Sandesh, you have a Vineeth, you have a Jerry, you have Farokh Choudhary. All these young boys are coming and making a name of themselves,” Nita Ambani said.
“Some years ago, it was unheard of that these guys getting a crore as salary. But today, you have 10 or 11 footballers who are heroes doing that. As years go by, and I think we are going to see an emergence a large number of Indian football heroes.”
“I have got goosebumps even now. When you see what background does a Sandesh comes from and the kind of hero-worship he gets through football, it’s a dream come true not only for us but for people like us in the sports administration. To see our youngsters chasing their passion and making dreams a reality is something that I kind of cherish.”
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