Today, if there is one sport which really unites the whole world and brings many big/smallest nations on one single platform in a major competition then it is none other than soccer during every FIFA World Cup. Well, India has the capacity of representing Asia at the football world cup in future. This might sound as a big joke. When a record nine Asian nations (AFC) like Australia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Uzbekistan have qualified and are currently seen playing in the ongoing expanded 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup then why not India? Well, Indians should seriously come in their senses and realise that the world's most popular sport is not cricket but football which is a mega sport, passionately followed and played by people even in the most remote slums/gullies all around the globe. Yes, the reason why Indians should start taking more interest in football is because this sport alone offers some real competition and entertainment for people worldwide, especially during a FIFA World Cup unlike cricket which is played by the same old handful of 10 countries.
JERRY FERNANDES, Saligao
