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4 things India needs to do to qualify for the 2034 FIFA World Cup

A credible 2034 World Cup challenge must begin with being objective about where Indian football stands and being confident about what can be built.

India qualifying for the FIFA World Cup in 2034 is, from where we stand today, an exceptionally difficult proposition. It would be unwise to present it as a prediction or a promise. But 2034 can serve as a powerful national horizon: a deadline by which India should build a football system capable of mounting a credible World Cup qualification challenge.

That distinction matters. Predictions encourage spectacle. A long-term performance horizon demands institutions, accountability and measurable progress. India remains far from the standards required to qualify from Asia. Our national team has lacked consistency, and our development system does not yet produce enough footballers capable of competing at the highest continental level.

These realities should be acknowledged without defensiveness. They should not become an argument for resignation. The expansion of the World Cup has created a wider pathway for Asian football, even though India’s challenge remains formidable. The real objective must be to make India one of Asia’s most improved football systems over the next eight years. If that transformation is achieved, qualification can become a genuine sporting possibility rather than a rhetorical aspiration.

Institutional stability must come first

The first requirement is institutional stability.

The prolonged process concerning the All India Football Federation’s constitutional and governance framework has moved towards resolution through the directions of the Supreme Court and India’s sports governance framework. The priority must now be effective implementation, allowing Indian football to move from institutional uncertainty to sustained sporting development.

The value of reform will ultimately be measured by its impact on players, coaches, clubs and supporters. AIFF needs clear responsibilities, professional management, transparent decision-making and the institutional capacity to regulate the game while protecting its long-term sporting interests.........

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