Gokulam Kerala head coach Antonio Rueda feels India has the potential to play the FIFA World Cup, but that will only happen if the club football structure becomes professional.

The Spaniard has urged the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to make its top two divisions in men's football (ISL and I-League) more organised and competitive. "I think India has a good opportunity to play in the World Cup. But you cannot play the World Cup when your first division and the second division has 12 teams and 14 teams. It will be better for your national team if you have very, very strong divisions," Rueda said on Thursday, on the eve of Gokulam's I-League opener against Sreenidi Deccan in Hyderabad.

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The I-League, the second division in the Indian men's club football pyramid, has 12 participants this season. The top division of the Indian Super League (ISL) has 13 participants, including Kerala Blasters.

... you cannot play the World Cup when your first division and the second division has 12 teams and 14 teams

Antonio Rueda, Gokulam Kerala Head Coach

Another issue Rueda wants fixed in India is the timely conduct of the leagues. As per the AIFF calendar for 2024-25 released in February, the ISL was to begin in 'mid-September' and the I-League in 'mid-October'. While the ISL kicked off as scheduled on September 13, the I-League was dragged for over a month.

"If you say the league will start on October 18, you must start on October 18. It cannot be delayed. If not, you cannot play in the World Cup," Rueda said.

'Need better organisation'
Rueda is not new to Indian football, as he was part of Churchill Brothers a few seasons ago. While he finds working in the country comfortable, the Spaniard has urged the stakeholders to be more professional. "I'm very happy in India, but we need better organisation," Rueda said. "It is difficult when you start the pre-season and are not sure when the league will start. For the players, it is difficult because you are training but don't know when the league starts."

Gokulam goalkeeper Shibin Raj echoed his coach's views but put in rather mildly. "As players, we have to adapt to the circumstances. The club is giving us good facilities. The challenge was for the coaching staff to maintain the players. But I think they planned accordingly and took care of us physically and mentally," Shibin Raj said.

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