FIFA World Cup Special: When it comes to sports in India, the first and last name that comes to mind is cricket. The fame and money earned by cricket in the last several decades has left other sports behind. But if we look carefully at Indian sports history, an interesting truth emerges. That is, there was a time when football was on its way to becoming the most popular sport in India. Kolkata, Goa, Kerala, Hyderabad, North-East India, here football was not just a game but a part of social life.
The story of Indian football is not just about the game. It is also linked to the story of British rule, national awareness and the making of modern India.
When the British game became India’s passion
Modern football in India came with the British rule. In the late 19th century, British soldiers and officers started popularizing it. In the beginning it was only a game for the British. But gradually Indian youth also adopted it, especially in Bengal.
The credit for bringing this game to India goes to Nagendra Prasad Sarvadhikari, who is called the father of Indian football. As a child in 1877, he saw British soldiers playing on the grounds of Calcutta. Impressed, he along with his school friends formed India’s first indigenous club, ‘Boys Club’.
1911: Barefoot team created history
National consciousness was emerging in India in the last years of the 19th century. Anger against the British rule was increasing. In such a situation, the grounds also became a place to show national pride. The victory of the Indian teams was not only considered a sporting victory, it was also considered a psychological victory over the British.
The year 1911 holds a special place in Indian sports history. That year Mohun Bagan AC won the famous IFA Shield. In the final the team defeated the English Army team. Most of the Indian players were playing barefoot, the opposing team had shoes and better facilities. After the victory, there was a flood of celebration on the streets of Kolkata. Many leaders called it not just a game but an example of Indian self-confidence.
On 29 July 1911, Mohun Bagan defeated the British Army’s ‘East Yorkshire Regiment’ 2–1. This victory, won by the goals of Captain Shibdas Bhaduri and Abhilash Ghosh, was considered the biggest cultural victory of the Indian freedom struggle after the Banga-Bhang movement.
Kolkata: Where football was like a religion
That victory of 1911 gave a new direction to Indian football. Thousands of youth took to the field. Football became a symbol of national pride in Bengal. Kolkata gradually became the capital of Indian football. From tea shops to college campuses, there was talk of football everywhere.
Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and later Mohammedan Sporting Club shaped Indian football. The rivalry between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal became one of the most famous rivalries in Indian sporting history. The rise of East Bengal was linked to the partition of Bengal and the identity of the people who came from East Bengal. Mohun Bagan was considered representative of the Bengali elite.
The Kolkata derby or ‘The Big Match’, is one of the fiercest rivalries in the world. Mohun Bagan supporters are called ‘Ghoti’ and East Bengal supporters are called ‘Bengal’. This war becomes not just a war of football but also of the culinary-cultural pride of Chingdi fish and Hilsa fish.
1948–1962: India’s golden age
After independence, Indian football started a new chapter. The period from 1948 to 1962 is called the golden era of Indian football. During this period, India was considered a respected football power in Asia.
The performance of the Indian team in the 1948 London Olympics caught the attention of the world. Many players were still playing barefoot, but the game was fierce. India’s first international match against France was lost only 2–1. After the match, when the British media asked captain Tailamran Ao the reason for playing barefoot, his answer is still remembered, we play football in India, not bootball.
The talk of this golden era is incomplete without coach Saeed Abdul Rahim. He is called the architect of Indian football. Under his guidance India won gold at the 1951 (Delhi) and 1962 (Jakarta) Asian Games, and reached the semi-finals at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, one of the greatest achievements in Olympic football for any Asian country.
During this period, names like Chunni Goswami, PK Banerjee and Tulsidas Balram came to the fore. The forward line of these three was called the ‘Holy Trinity’ and they were feared throughout Asia.
1950 World Cup: What got lost
The most famous incident in the history of Indian football is related to the 1950 World Cup. India could not participate even after getting a chance to play. The popular story was that Indian players wanted to play barefoot and FIFA refused. But the real reason was much more complicated. Travel expenses, limited resources, and the importance given to the Olympics over the World Cup at the time, all combined to prevent India’s participation. The All India Football Federation had backed out mainly due to the long and expensive sea voyage and lack of practice. This incident is still one of the biggest ‘what if’ debates.
when cricket took over
After winning gold in 1951 and 1962, there was hope that India would progress further. The opposite happened. Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, all these countries made football a national priority. Created academies, created coaching structure, expanded leagues. India lagged behind in this race.
A major reason for this decline was administrative chaos. If there is talent but no strong institutions, the game does not progress. This is what happened in India. Talented players kept coming, but no structure was created to groom them.
Meanwhile, India won the Cricket World Cup in 1983. This victory changed Indian sports culture. Cricket became a national obsession. TV, sponsors, media, everyone leaned towards cricket. Football, hockey and other sports were left behind. Cricket proved to be a perfect game for TV, and as a result the economic gap between the two sports grew.
where passion is still alive
But it would be wrong to say that football has completely ended. Kolkata’s football culture survived. Goa kept it a part of its life. The passion for Kerala never diminished. Northeast India, especially Manipur, Mizoram and Meghalaya, produced new talent.
During this period, ‘I-League’ and before that ‘National Football League’ started. The emergence of clubs like Shillong Lajong and Aizawl FC showed how deep the roots of football run in the hill states.
Sunil Chhetri: A face that symbolized an entire era
Sunil Chhetri is the most important name in the modern history of Indian football. When Indian football needed inspiration and identity, Chhetri did this by becoming the face of the national team. His achievement cannot be measured only in goals. He gave confidence to an entire generation that competition at the international level was possible.
Chhetri is the only hero for India to stand in the league of legends like Ronaldo and Messi with 94 goals in international football. He bid farewell to his 19-year-long career after the match against Kuwait in June 2024.
ISL: New shine, but old questions remain
The launch of the Indian Super League in 2014 was a major turning point for Indian football. Football got new visibility. New clubs were formed in big cities. Foreign players and coaches came. The quality of broadcasting improved. Some criticized that the grassroots structure was being ignored, with the focus only on the top league. But it has to be acknowledged that ISL made football a part of the national conversation. Later Mohun Bagan and East Bengal also became part of this league, which gave a new modern color to Indian club football.
there’s still a long way to go
The biggest challenge of Indian football even today is the ground infrastructure. The world’s successful football nations pay heavy attention to the development of children and teenagers. Some progress has been made in this direction in India, but the road is still long. Another challenge is thinking. Most families in India do not accept football as a career as easily as in other countries. Questions related to economic security and education remain in front of the players. Unless football provides more stable professional opportunities, it will be difficult to retain talented youngsters in the game.
there is still hope
Yet the picture is not entirely bleak. The audience has increased in the last two decades. The broadcast of European leagues has increased interest among youth. Social media has given new audiences. Northeast India, Kerala, Goa, Bengal, the flow of talent continues here. Women’s football is also slowly progressing. The Indian women’s team, known as the “Blue Tigresses”, has shown a strong presence on the international stage in recent years. A player like Bala Devi playing for Rangers Club of Scotland shows that the scope of women’s football is expanding rapidly.
A dream that is still alive
The story of Indian football is interesting because it has a glorious past, a long struggle, and hope for the future. This story is still incomplete. The question is not what India lost. The big question is what India can achieve next.
A large population, a growing economy, a young generation, quality academies, and a growing interest for football, combined with the right national strategy, could see India become a major power in Asian football in the coming decades. It is not easy, but not impossible either.
Perhaps the biggest strength of Indian football is that it still has a dream. The dream that started with Mohun Bagan in 1911, was reflected in the gold medals of 1951 and 1962, and is still alive in the eyes of children running after the ball in thousands of grounds across the country.
