As the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway, India continues to face a familiar challenge: despite a population of nearly 1.4 billion and a passionate sports culture, the country has never qualified for the tournament. According to Al Jazeera's 101 East, this struggle reflects deeper structural issues in Indian football—limited grassroots development, insufficient investment in youth training systems, and a sports culture historically centered on cricket. The story raises a persistent question: why does a nation with such vast resources and population struggle to compete in the world's most popular sport?

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