Former Indian footballer and FC Goa youth coach Israil Gurung has called for a reality check on India’s football ambitions, urging the nation to focus on becoming a regular Asian Cup presence before dreaming of the FIFA World Cup.
Speaking during an exposure tour in Fukuoka, Japan, Gurung stressed that India’s football community must put aside individual ego for the greater good. ‘I am not worried about the World Cup. I want to see India playing at the Asian level continuously,’ he said, noting that India has only participated in five Asian Cups and failed to qualify for the 2027 edition.
Gurung pointed to India’s declining dominance in South Asian football, saying, ‘Before, India used to dominate among the SAFF teams hands down. But now, we started struggling.’ He added that progress is ‘going very slow’ and called for unified efforts among stakeholders.
India’s recent results against Asian sides have been inconsistent. The team endured an 11-match winless streak in 2024, broke only by a victory over Maldives in March 2025. Despite a CAFA Nations Cup bronze in 2025, India suffered defeats to Jamaica, Zimbabwe, and Tajikistan this year, leading to frequent coaching changes. Manolo Marquez left after one year in charge, and Khalid Jamil was appointed in August 2025.
Gurung’s remarks come amid ongoing uncertainty over the Indian Super League schedule, which affected players’ livelihoods. The former India international urged stakeholders to work together: ‘Keeping individual ego aside, look for the betterment of football.’
Article and image source: singaporestar.com
