Football in India has a richer past than most people realise. It is a story of passionate clubs, golden moments and long waits, and it is far from finished. Here it is in six chapters.
Chapter one: the early clubs
Football arrived with the British in the nineteenth century, and Calcutta became its first great home. Clubs formed quickly, and in 1889 Mohun Bagan was founded, followed by East Bengal in 1920 and Mohammedan Sporting, among others. These clubs built fierce rivalries and loyal followings that still define Indian football today.
Chapter two: the barefoot triumph
In 1911, Mohun Bagan beat a British army side, the East Yorkshire Regiment, in the final of the IFA Shield. Many of the Indian players played barefoot. The win was celebrated across the country as a symbol of pride, and it remains one of the most famous days in Indian sport.
Chapter three: the golden age
The 1950s and early 1960s are remembered as India’s golden age. Under the coach Syed Abdul Rahim, the national team won gold at the 1951 Asian Games in New Delhi and again in 1962 in Jakarta. At the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, India reached the semi-finals, a result that still stands as the best by an Asian team at the time.
India also qualified for the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, after other teams withdrew from the qualifying group. The team did not travel to the tournament, and the reasons have been debated ever since.
Chapter four: the long wait
After the golden age came a quieter period. The national team continued to compete, and domestic football remained strong in places like West Bengal, Goa, Kerala and the North East. But results at the international level did not match earlier glories, and cricket began to dominate the national imagination.
During these years, a generation of players kept the flame alive. Names like Bhaichung Bhutia and later Sunil Chhetri carried Indian football forward and inspired young fans.
Chapter five: a new league
In 2014, the Indian Super League arrived. Built on a franchise model with a big television presence, it changed the way football was presented in the country. Crowds came back, foreign players and coaches arrived, and a new generation of fans discovered the game.
The league worked alongside older competitions, and over time it became the main stage for Indian club football.
Chapter six: the present and the future
Today, Indian football is a mix of old and new. There are historic clubs with more than a century of tradition, and modern franchises with global ambitions. Young players come through academies, and the women’s game is growing.
What has not changed is the passion. A derby in Kolkata still stops the city. A packed stadium in Kerala still roars. The story of Indian football is the story of fans who never stopped believing.
Where to go next
If this story has sparked your interest, there is plenty more to explore. Start with our guide to the Indian Super League, then read about the players who shaped the game. The best chapter may still be the next one.