New Delhi, July 7: The scenes were extraordinary. As Lionel Messi calmly slotted home his first goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Algeria, thousands of fans erupted into celebration in the streets of Dhaka. Many wore Argentina’s iconic sky-blue-and-white jersey, waved flags and chanted Messi’s name.
Yet there was one striking detail — not a single Argentine was among them.
Similar scenes have played out across South Asia and Southeast Asia during the tournament, with giant public screenings in Bangladesh, India and Indonesia drawing massive crowds. While football’s biggest stars continue to captivate millions, many of the world’s most populous nations remain absent from the competition itself, highlighting one of the sport’s greatest paradoxes.
A Billions-Strong Fanbase Without a Team
Among the world’s 10 most populous countries, only the United States and Brazil featured at the 2026 World Cup. Nations such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Ethiopia are still waiting for their first appearance, while China has qualified only once, in 2002, and Indonesia’s lone participation came in 1938 under Dutch colonial rule.
India technically qualified for the 1950 World Cup but withdrew before the tournament began.
“It is simply unacceptable that a country with millions of football fans should lag so far behind in football,” Bangladeshi actor, writer and football enthusiast Audite Karim said.
The passion, however, remains unquestionable. Across Asia and Africa, supporters have adopted traditional football powerhouses such as Argentina and Brazil, celebrating every goal as if it belonged to their own nation.
Population Alone Isn’t Enough
At first glance, large populations should provide an endless supply of football talent. But experts say success on the international stage depends on far more than numbers.
British sports economist Stefan Szymanski, co-author of Soccernomics, argues that three ingredients are essential — population, economic resources and footballing know-how.
Infrastructure, coaching systems, professional leagues and long-term investment all play a crucial role. Wealthier nations generally enjoy an advantage, although footballing giants Argentina and Brazil have repeatedly shown that tradition and expertise can overcome economic limitations.
According to Szymanski, football success is also rooted in history. Countries that established competitive football cultures more than a century ago continue to dominate because generations of players, coaches and administrators have built a deep reservoir of experience.That helps explain why Uruguay, despite a population of only around 3.5 million, has won two World Cups, while much larger nations continue to struggle.
Infrastructure Gaps Continue to Hurt Emerging Nations
Many developing football nations face structural problems that extend well beyond the pitch.In Ethiopia, where football remains hugely popular, underinvestment has created severe infrastructure shortages. The country’s professional league has been forced to stage hundreds of matches using only a handful of approved stadiums, while the national team has often had to play home qualifiers outside the country because of inadequate facilities.
Similar challenges exist across South Asia, where limited grassroots development, coaching standards and football infrastructure continue to hinder progress despite widespread public interest.
Is Cricket Really the Problem?
Cricket is often blamed for football’s struggles in countries such as India and Bangladesh. Former India international Shyam Thapa believes the enormous financial success of the Indian Premier League has encouraged many parents to push talented youngsters towards cricket instead of football.Others disagree.Karim points out that Australia and New Zealand have managed to establish themselves as regular World Cup participants despite also being cricket powerhouses.According to her, the real issue is not sporting competition but the absence of a strong football ecosystem capable of producing elite players consistently.
China’s Unfulfilled Promise
China presents perhaps the biggest mystery. Despite becoming an Olympic powerhouse and investing heavily in football over the past decade, including attracting several international stars to its domestic league, the country has failed to return to the World Cup since 2002.
Football observers argue that political influence, rather than a lack of talent, has hampered the game’s development, preventing long-term sporting decisions from being driven purely by football expertise.
Indonesia, meanwhile, has shown encouraging signs after reaching the final stage of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, although much of that progress has been aided by recruiting players of Indonesian heritage born and developed in Europe.
However, Pakistan and Bangladesh, by contrast, exited qualifying without recording a single victory in the qualifier, with Pakistan’s football development further disrupted by repeated FIFA suspensions over governance issues.
Living the World Cup Through Others
For millions of football supporters across Asia and Africa, watching the World Cup often means passionately supporting another nation’s colours rather than their own.Despite the disappointment of repeated qualification failures, the tournament continues to unite communities through giant public screenings, celebrations and shared admiration for players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe.For many fans, that emotional connection remains enough—for now.“I don’t think I’ll see Bangladesh play in a World Cup during my lifetime,” Karim said. “But that won’t stop us from celebrating every moment of the tournament.”
The passion has never been in doubt. The challenge is transforming that passion into players, infrastructure and sustained success. (Agencies)
