Five things India needs to do to play in the FIFA World Cup

Have a strong domestic league

Indian football needs one strong domestic league

Having a strong domestic league is very important to produce a quality national team at international level. The I-League has been a fading product over the years so it remains to be seen if the upcoming Indian Super League is a success or not. India needs one strong league and not two unsuccessful ones, hence the future of India football depends heavily on the success of the ISL. The new 10-week tournament has the potential to commercialise the game in the country and also bring masses to the venues unlike the I-League. The pan-Indian presence of the ISL also gives it an advantage and the tie-up with the English Premier League should help in its branding and promotion. The ISL will also have a dedicated grassroots development program so perhaps it will be one of the solutions for Indian football. But it has to be a longer tournament and perhaps merging of the ISL and I-League is the way forward. The combination of existing clubs and corporates and celebrities is perhaps what will give India a strong domestic league that not only improves the quality on the pitch but also has a good following off it so that the sport eventually becomes a desired profession.

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