PM Modi claims India making great progress in football. But he is wrong

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told American podcaster Lex Fridman that football in the country was progressing. "Our women's football team is performing really well, and the men's team is also making great progress," PM Modi said in his three-hour podcast, which touched upon a range of subjects besides sports.

While PM Modi believes India's men and women sides are performing well, the reality is quite the opposite.

The Indian men's football team have not won a match in over 15 months. India's last win came against Kuwait (1-0) in an AFC-level qualifier for the FIFA World Cup held in Kuwait City. Since then, India have played 12 matches, losing seven and drawing the rest.

Indian women's team is slightly better placed but have not been able to dominate their neighbours as before. In October 2024, India lost in the semifinals of the SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) Women's Championship.

India lost the semifinals of SAFF to Nepal, while Bangladesh retained their title. India are the most successful team in the SAFF, having won five titles in a row since 2010, but they haven't won since 2022.

When it comes to FIFA rankings, Indian men's team is placed 126th in the world. India have been on a downward spiral in the last two years, from being ranked 99th in July 2023. Indian men's team were ranked 96th in the world in 2017.

The women's team, too, have slipped up in the rankings to 69th. India's rankings have got worse each year since 2020, when they were placed 53rd in the world. India recently defeated Jordan 2-0 in the Pink Ladies Cup but lost to Russia (2-0) and South Korea (3-0).

The Indian men's team will take on Maldives in a friendly on March 19, before hosting Bangladesh for their third round match in the AFC Asian Cup qualification.