Doha: FIFA President Gianni Infantino said India is likely to play in the next World Cup. Infantino was referring to the qualification of 16 other teams to the USA-Mexico-Canada World Cup. The FIFA president also assured that FIFA will invest heavily to improve Indian football and the national team. Infantino’s response came by answering questions from fans on Instagram.
Will India participate in the 2026 World Cup? 1.5 billion people want to see it?
‘I hope it will be soon. The next Men’s World Cup is in 2026. Instead of 32, there will be 48 teams. So there is definitely a chance for India to qualify. But this is the guarantee we can give to Indian FIFA fans, FIFA will invest heavily in India. To make Indian football much bigger. Football in India, a big country, must be fantastic. Also a great football team. So we are working on it” Infantino said.
Just like the previous World Cups, the World Cup in Qatar once again met with great acclaim among the Indian public. Billions of people watch football matches on TVs, big screens and smartphones. The excitement for football in Kerala and Calcutta has also become news in the international media. Spot 18, which broadcast the game in India, included a floodlight show and fanfares from various places in Kerala. Brazilian superstar Neymar and the Argentine soccer team expressed special thanks to Kerala.
The Indian football team is currently 106th in the FIFA rankings. India has only been invited to play in the World Cup once. Asian teams such as Japan and South Korea performed well in Qatar.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS: FIFA president Gianni Infantino talks India’s entry into the 2026 World Cup
