Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Dhorasoo Urges India to Learn From Japan, African Football
Vikash Dhorasoo is a former France player of Indian origin.
He thinks India can improve its football by sending more players to leagues in other countries.
He said Japan became stronger after its players joined leagues such as the Bundesliga and Premier League.
He also praised African football, where many national-team players compete outside their home countries.
Dhorasoo suggested India could create a competition using only players from its local league.
India recently drew 1-1 with Panama.
It will next play Brazil and Uruguay in Kolkata.
Dhorasoo wants the Indian players to enjoy the matches and show what they can do.
Vikash Dhorasoo urged the All India Football Federation to study Japan’s use of foreign leagues to improve Indian football.
He also pointed to African football and the African Nations Championship as models for developing local players.
India drew 1-1 with 44th-ranked Panama while ranked 138th in the FIFA rankings.
India is scheduled to host Brazil on October 3 and Uruguay on October 6 at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.
Dhorasoo encouraged India’s players to enjoy the full 90 minutes and prove themselves against Brazil.
- Who
- Vikash Dhorasoo, the All India Football Federation, and India’s national football team.
- What
- Dhorasoo recommended sending Indian players to foreign leagues and creating a local-player competition modeled partly on Africa’s African Nations Championship.
- When
- Dhorasoo made the comments on Thursday; India is scheduled to play Brazil on October 3 and Uruguay on October 6.
- Where
- The upcoming matches will be played at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, India.
- Why
- Dhorasoo believes foreign-league experience and stronger domestic-player development could raise the level of Indian football.
Dhorasoo’s Development Approach
Current Indian Football Challenges
Foreign-league experience
Dhorasoo’s Development Approach
Dhorasoo says sending Indian players to foreign leagues, as Japan has done, helped raise Japan’s football level and could benefit India.
Current Indian Football Challenges
The article describes Indian football as facing financial and operational problems, including club debt and collapsing broadcast deals, which may complicate player-development efforts.
Local-player competition
Dhorasoo’s Development Approach
Dhorasoo proposed implementing a competition similar to the African Nations Championship, which features players from domestic leagues.
Current Indian Football Challenges
The article does not report an official response from the All India Football Federation on whether such a competition will be created.
- Dhorasoo’s background
- He was the first player of Indian origin to feature in a FIFA World Cup and made two substitute appearances for France at the 2006 tournament.
- India’s FIFA ranking
- 138th in the latest FIFA rankings.
- Recent result
- India drew 1-1 with 44th-ranked Panama in Bengaluru.
- Upcoming opponent
- India is scheduled to face five-time champion Brazil on October 3.
- Second upcoming opponent
- India is scheduled to face two-time world champion Uruguay on October 6.
- Development proposal
- Dhorasoo wants India to send players to foreign leagues and consider a competition involving only local-league players.
- Domestic football crisis
- The Indian Super League has faced financial and operational problems linked to collapsing broadcast deals, rising club debt, and disputes over revenue retention by the All India Football Federation.