Indian women’s football stalwart Ashalata Devi says the dream of seeing the country play at the FIFA Women’s World Cup remains alive, but stressed that sustained progress at the grassroots level is crucial to bridge the gap with the world’s elite. “Our dream of the World Cup is still alive. We still have to work even harder at this time,” Ashalata said.

The veteran defender pointed out that all three national teams — Under-17, Under-19 and the senior side — have qualified for their respective AFC Asian Championships, making 2026 a potentially defining year for the women’s game in India.

“Under-17, Under-19 and the senior team have already qualified for AFC competitions. If we do well there, obviously our dream of the World Cup is still alive,” she said.

One of the most capped players in Indian women’s football history, Ashalata, who has earned over 100 international caps and captained the national side on multiple occasions, said the senior team has made steady progress, but is still short of world-class standards.

“We have been doing better for a long time, but still according to world-class levels, we are not there yet. Still, we are trying a lot,” she said.

“I have so much faith in the players. Their passion, hard work and dedication… they have been working for so many years. I really hope this time we qualify for the World Cup and do better for Indian women’s football.” Having spent more than a decade anchoring India’s defence, Ashalata identified grassroots development as the biggest area needing immediate attention.

“The problem is that we skip the basics and go straight to the technical aspects. In my time, I started playing football at the age of 13. Now many players start at 10 or 11. But if we start at five or six years, learning becomes much better,” she said, emphasising that skill acquisition becomes increasingly difficult with age.

“After 17 or 18 years, teaching skills like ball control becomes very difficult. By then, players play more by expression than learning. That’s why grassroots football is very important,” she added.

While acknowledging the role of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the senior pro said responsibility must also lie with state associations. “AIFF has a big role, but every state has its own association. They must show interest and take initiative. Everything cannot be done only at the top level,” Ashalata said, adding that consistency at the state level is essential to create a sustainable pipeline of talent.

Off the field, Ashalata has already begun planning her contribution to the game beyond her playing career through the Ashalata Devi Football Festival (ADFF), which she started along with fellow India international Aditi Chauhan in Imphal. “I never knew what I would do after retirement other than football. I still feel connected to football and I wanted to do something for it,” she said.

Coca-Cola backs women’s football

Coca-Cola has been named as the official sponsor of the Indian women’s national football team under a three-year partnership. The agreement marks a significant milestone for women’s football in the country with the national side securing an exclusive team sponsor for the first time in several decades.

For the Indian women’s side, the deal represents a major step toward long-term stability after years of operating without a dedicated corporate sponsor. The announcement comes on the back of a breakthrough 2025 season for Indian women’s football.

Also read: Women’s football: Aditi Chauhan calls for structural reforms