Indian football has always had talent, but the system has not supported it well. Poor infrastructure, limited scouting, lack of long-term planning, and weak administration have held us back. But one big thing can change all of that is international funding.

While local funding remains difficult due to the lack of widespread interest in football compared to cricket, strong examples from around the world show what is possible with the right vision and investment. If India can bring in serious funding from corporates, government, or private investors, whether that is locally or internationally, it can change the entire football structure, just like it happened in other countries.

Here are four strong cases that show how funding changed everything:

IPL

Take the IPL for example. It changed Indian cricket completely. When Lalit Modi and BCCI got sponsorships and TV rights, they built a billion-dollar league. Overnight, domestic cricket got more attention than ever. Indian football can do something similar if the All India Football Federation (AIFF) becomes more business-minded.

Red Bull

Look at Red Bull in football. They bought small clubs like RB Leipzig and turned them into Champions League teams. They brought in young players, trained them, and sold them for profit. With corporate ownership and smart planning, they changed the whole football structure.

City Group

Manchester City is another example. A club that used to be mid-table in England was bought by Sheikh Mansour. Today, it’s part of a global group of clubs, including Mumbai City FC. They didn’t just buy players. They changed everything – from coaching, scouting, branding to youth academies.

Japan Government

Even in Japan, football became professional because companies and the government backed it. The J-League was born when fan interest grew and companies turned their factory teams into pro clubs.

FIFA and AFC Fundings

FIFA and AFC fundings aren’t enough because India is still in Category 4 — the lowest level in terms of development support. We must go beyond that by building strategic bilateral partnerships with football clubs and federations in countries where India shares good geopolitical relations — like Japan, South Korea, UAE, or even some European nations. These ties can help us learn from successful models and attract better infrastructure support and technical know-how.

Final word

If India can get one big investor or even a few solid sponsors to back a long-term plan, not just ISL glamor, we can improve the grassroots, youth academies, training facilities, scouting systems, and coach education.

It doesn’t always have to be billionaires. Even fan-owned models like AFC Wimbledon or Germany’s 50+1 rule have worked. But they need proper structure and accountability.

The AIFF must allow smart football minds to take charge, attract sponsors with a long-term vision, and show transparency in operations. It’s not just about money, it’s about how that money is used.

Big funding can change how football is run in India, just like it did in Europe, Japan, and even USA college sports. But we need the right people, plans, and purpose behind it..