Football as a career

Football is a popular sport in India. Football has enjoyed popularity in Kerala, West Bengal, Goa and north-eastern India.

India's current top domestic league, Indian Super League, was formed in 2013 in an attempt to professionalize domestic football. In 2013 the Indian Super League was formed as an unrecognised professional league with eight teams to promote Indian football to the country and world. After third season, it was recognised as a top tier league, running parallel with the I-League, thus leaving India as one of the few countries with two fully recognised top tier leagues.Also contested is Santosh Trophy, a knock-out competition between states (provinces) and government institutions.

The 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup was hosted by India in the month of October in 2017 and the first time the country had hosted a FIFA event. The tournament was touted as the most successful FIFA U-17 World Cup ever, with the attendance being a record 1,347,133 surpassing China's 1985 edition where it was 1,230,976. India is also going to host the 2020 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. Owing to this, India has also bid to host the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup and is considering a bid for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

5 International Football Clubs with Academies in India

1) Liverpool – DSK Shivajians Academy - DSK Dream City, Pune, Maharashtra

2) Paris Saint-Germain Academy India - Gurgaon, Vasant Kunj (Delhi), and Bangalore

3) FCBEscola Soccer School - Gurgaon

4) Boca Juniors Football School - Bangalore and Mumbai

5) Arsenal Soccer Schools India - Delhi, Punjab, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana and Maharashtra