India : Soccer World Cup 2010

Soccer World Cup history

2010	?
1950	In the qualifiers Burma, Philippines and Indonesia all withdrew leaving so India qualified automatically. However, India's request to play barefoot was turned down by Fifa and India decided not to participate.

India has last qualified for the Asian Cup in 1984. Fortuanately there is a South Asian Football Federation Cup (SAFF) established in 1997 that includes countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Maldives. India has won 4 out of the last 6 SAFF titles (but slipped to 3rd and 4th place in the last two).

Project World Cup

In June 2006 the All India Football Federation launched a project called "Goal 2010" , with the ultimate aim of getting their side to the Soccer World Cup 2010.

Coach thinks 2014 is more realistic

"Whether it is possible for India to make it to this World Cup I don't know. But to do it, we have to take a huge leap forward. But I think, World Cup 2014 will be a more realistic target", Bob Houghton in August 2006.

Indian Soccer World Cup 2010 quotes

India Times
11 July 2006

"Industry insiders feel the F&B activity around the World Cup was subdued this time partly because of the odd timings of the telecasts (most matches were aired post-midnight in India owing to the time-gap with Germany). Perhaps, the FIFA world cup 2010 in South Africa will prove more attractive as the time would be more convenient for us in India."