As Uzbekistan, Jordan make history, ex-players say

India may take 200 years to reach World Cup

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Uzbekistan booked their maiden World Cup berth with a match to spare after a goalless draw against the UAE, becoming the fifth team to qualify alongside the three hosts. Jordan too made history with a 3-0 win over Oman — a remarkable turnaround from their 5-0 playoff defeat to Uruguay in 2014.

In 2018, India and Uzbekistan were neck and neck in the FIFA rankings. India stood at 98, Uzbekistan at 95. Seven years later, Uzbekistan is heading to its first-ever World Cup — and India, some say, might need 200 years to get there.

The Blue Tigers finished third in Group A of the second round of FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC qualifiers, managing one victory in six matches. Their 2-1 defeat to Asian champions Qatar in their final qualifier confirmed what had become inevitable - another World Cup cycle without India.

This latest failure extends a troubling pattern that has seen both India's senior team and youth sides struggle. The U-17 and U-20 teams failed to qualify for the Asia Cup despite being placed in relatively favorable groups, highlighting the depth of the crisis in Indian football.

Former Mohun Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen didn't mince words when assessing the current state: "India needs a holistic overhaul of the player development process as well as the league structures. No players today have the drive and commitment to take the game to newer heights."