India earn top FIFA seat, eye 2026 World Cup
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India set their sights on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup as Praful Patel became their first representative on the powerful FIFA Council on Saturday.
Patel, one of six Asian delegates elected to the Council at the Asian Football Confederation Congress, said the World Cup was the next big step for India after making great strides in recent years.
India's confidence has grown after a positive Asian Cup in January, where they returned to the tournament after eight years and were unlucky not to reach the second round.
“I personally feel that among all the countries in Asia there is a tremendous goodwill for India, and (also) China should be much more involved in the game and also the AFC and FIFA,” Patel said in Kuala Lumpur.
“We should be putting our best efforts to make sure that the Indian team qualifies in 2026 for the World Cup,” he added.
However, India are also searching for a new coach after Englishman Stephen Constantine quit following their Asian Cup exit after a last-gasp defeat to Bahrain.
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On DawnNews
Comments (58) Closed
Apr 06, 2019 05:47pm
Congratulations India performance at par with all other fields.
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Apr 06, 2019 06:04pm
It’s time India gives cricket a break. Other sports too get enough attention.
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Apr 06, 2019 06:11pm
Congrates...
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Apr 06, 2019 06:19pm
Money walks, money talks, money rocks and sometimes stalks in today's capitalistic world. How could corrupt FIFA be an exception?
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Apr 06, 2019 06:20pm
Pakistan should challenge India in Asia cup football and on
India's refusal, move FIFA to disqualify India.
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Apr 06, 2019 06:35pm
This comes at a time when racism in football is once again becoming a critical issue. Let's see what FIFA makes of Hindustan's brutal intolerance towards its ethnic and religious minorities.
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Apr 06, 2019 06:37pm
On what grounds, Indians doesn't play football, all on just to make fun and fool of rest of the World.
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Apr 06, 2019 07:17pm
congratulation Mr. patel and all indians ..Great achievement . Now we must invest more on soccer game ..
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Apr 06, 2019 07:21pm
@M. Saeed,
Can't you think positively.
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Apr 06, 2019 07:24pm
Unstoppable India. Well done
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Apr 06, 2019 07:25pm
India is just amazing
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Apr 06, 2019 07:45pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, ..congratulations. off late you realised the fact.
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Apr 06, 2019 07:47pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, yes,money talks. You didn't know that ? Earn money, earn respect. Simple as it is.
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Apr 06, 2019 07:57pm
@Saad, what is Pakistan doing we can also do
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Apr 06, 2019 08:05pm
Football is the king of global sports. Glad India is giving it importance like cricket. Football brought glory to the nation long back. Time to strive for glory again.
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Apr 06, 2019 08:13pm
what about us fifa and cricket and olympics ...invest in own country
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Apr 06, 2019 08:17pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad,
Money walks, money talks, money rocks and sometimes stalks in today's capitalistic world.""
Is that not a fact.? Well Sir you lack that FACT .
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Apr 06, 2019 09:09pm
Pakistan at the bottom of FIFA football rankings.
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Apr 06, 2019 09:44pm
Here starts matching fixing. There goes the game.
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Apr 06, 2019 09:45pm
Once IK fixes the economy, he will turn his sight towards sports and we will excel in all fields with the top positions. Just a matter of time.
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Apr 06, 2019 09:47pm
@M. Saeed, Why bother, they will never qualify. Just show .
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Apr 06, 2019 09:55pm
All the comments from Pakistani's are the case of "sour grapes".
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Apr 06, 2019 10:01pm
@M. Saeed, that's all you can do
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Apr 06, 2019 10:36pm
What a joke INdia playing World Cup football, vs Spain 0 10, vs France o 15 and so on at the end vs Brazil 0 err you guess.
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Apr 06, 2019 11:17pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, Pakistan is in serious need of money right now.
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Apr 06, 2019 11:32pm
Meanwhile Pakistan is losing even in squash.where it was the undisputed champion not long ago
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Apr 07, 2019 03:36am
@M. Saeed, wouldn't it be nicer if, instead of messing up other people's chances, we focused on improving ourselves first?
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Apr 07, 2019 03:37am
@Saad, their FIFA ranking indicates the diametric opposite of what you're saying.
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Apr 07, 2019 03:37am
Not possible at all for 2026 unless half of the World is allowed to play
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Apr 07, 2019 04:14am
My fellow Indians, please refrain from posting negative comments. It’s a Sunday today. Relax and enjoy the burnt smell from the other side of the border
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Apr 07, 2019 06:36am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, Money is the reason why you want to play cricket with us.
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Apr 07, 2019 07:20am
@Saad, please come out of your special education where you rote and nod without learning anything.
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Apr 07, 2019 07:44am
Unless Indian team breaks into top 50 of FIFA ranking, doesn't makes any sense to host world cup. Investment should be made to create infrastructure and popularize the sport.
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Apr 07, 2019 07:53am
And now, cricket will take a back seat. Because FIFA is here.
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Apr 07, 2019 09:35am
M. Saeed. Pakistan always looses because you people want to defeat India, and We Indians always Win because we focus only on winning...
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Apr 07, 2019 12:16pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, atleast you accept that the country which became independent with yours has more money than you to influence world bodies
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Apr 07, 2019 01:13pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, Most western marauders,some of whom you consider as your ancestors, came to loot the riches india had,and managed it lead to poverty.
The rags to riches story is just unfolding and you are have started to envy.
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Apr 07, 2019 01:16pm
@M. Saeed, Do something to make your dream come true.
You have a man with a big heart at the helm and he has a solution for every problem.
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Apr 07, 2019 01:49pm
India FIFA ranking is 103 there is good chance of qualifying for 2026 WC.
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Apr 07, 2019 06:17pm
@Syed D meerza, at least we are playing
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Apr 07, 2019 11:50pm
@M. Saeed, Pakistan stands nowhere in front of mighty India
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Apr 08, 2019 03:10am
@Zak, "Once IK fixes the economy, he will turn his sight towards sports and we will excel in all fields with the top positions. Just a matter of time."
Another 70 year in waiting...
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Apr 08, 2019 04:58am
@MG, Nothing will change for last ranked Soccer team in world.No harm in dreaming.
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Apr 08, 2019 05:26am
Fellow Indian, FIFA is finally recognizing India’s potential as well as the big market. Let us rejoice without belittling anyone.
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Apr 08, 2019 10:08am
A great news for South Asia, possibly the least football savvy region in the World.
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Apr 08, 2019 07:10pm
@M. Saeed, Pakistan wouldn't be a challenge to India in any discipline.
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Apr 08, 2019 07:18pm
If India fan base shifts from cricket to Football, then adios cricket.
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Apr 08, 2019 07:58pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad,
I feel your pain buddy...
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Apr 08, 2019 09:00pm
@M. Saeed
"Pakistan should challenge India in Asia cup football and on India's refusal, move FIFA to disqualify India"
Feel pity for your petty mindedness.But no takers for you.
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Apr 09, 2019 12:34am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, you are right money talks. Not the borrowed money but earned money.
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Apr 09, 2019 12:41am
@Sarah, yes we dream big and strive to achieve.
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Apr 09, 2019 12:42am
@Zak, doesnt matter at least we are trying to be visible on world stage.
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Apr 09, 2019 05:12am
Well done. @ Dr Salaria - sour grapes perhaps...?
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Apr 09, 2019 05:30am
@Sarah, India raking is 101 Pak rank is 200...
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Apr 09, 2019 06:20am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, you are late in realization.
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Apr 09, 2019 06:26am
Prague patel is a congress man.
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Apr 09, 2019 07:56pm
@Syed D meerza,
India still beats Pakistan in every soccer match :).
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Apr 09, 2019 11:15pm
@Sarah, just check India and Pak rankings.
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