Former Arsenal Coach Praises Indian Football

Arsène Wenger believes there is a "goldmine" of football talent in India that should be harnessed for the country to play a more significant role on the global stage. The former Arsenal manager and FIFA's Director of Development stated, "My goal is to develop football in the world. It is impossible for a country like India, with 1.4 billion people, not to be on the world football map." He added during a meeting with the president of the All India Football Federation on Monday, "My goal here is to convince people that there is a goldmine that, for now, has not been fully explored, exploited, and encouraged." The Frenchman mentioned that "advanced development programs could help improve the level of the game in the country," and continued, "I was in Japan at the beginning of their football journey in 1995. By 1998, they were participating in the World Cup." India has never appeared in a World Cup and chose not to participate in the 1950 tournament despite being invited.