India has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, though it earned a place in 1950 and withdrew before playing any match. According to desiblitz.com, India’s withdrawal was due to travel costs, lack of preparation, and the federation’s decision to prioritize the Olympic Games. As of June 2026, India is ranked 138th in FIFA, near its lowest point in nearly a decade, according to news-nest.com. India’s early exit from the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers has been reported by news-nest.com.

Cricket has a dominant influence on Indian sports, backed by the powerful BCCI and massive revenues from the IPL, according to news-nest.com. Football receives far less media attention, sponsorship, and grassroots investment in India compared to cricket, according to the same source. Young talents in India chase cricket stardom rather than dreaming of European leagues or national team glory, according to news-nest.com.

FC Barcelona stopped all its football academies across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Pune, according to economictimes.indiatimes.com. The club informed families of all kids in its programme that operations were being shut down, according to the same source. Sarpreet Singh started for New Zealand in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to desiblitz.com.