Is the FIFA World Cup dream becoming a reality? Aditi Chauhan discusses the rise of Indian women’s football

Bengaluru, Sep 14 (NationPress) Former Indian goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan expressed her excitement regarding the recent success of the Indian women’s senior national team in qualifying for the AFC Asia Cup 2026 in Australia.

This achievement marks a significant milestone as it is the first time the Women in Blue have secured their spot through the qualifying rounds, with their last participation in the tournament dating back to 2003. Additionally, the India U20 women’s national team has also qualified for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup for the first time in two decades.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, Aditi spoke about the advancements in women’s football, her aspirations for qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, and the remarkable initiatives taken by her organization, ‘She Kicks’.

“India made history by qualifying for the Asia Cup on merit, with the U17 team winning the SAFF Championship and the U20 team also qualifying for the Asia Cup. It’s about time we realized our long-held belief that the women’s team will qualify for the FIFA World Cup before the men’s team, and our dreams are finally coming true,” Aditi shared with IANS.

“If we qualify for the FIFA World Cup and perform well in the Asia Cup, it will significantly boost women’s football in India and help us unlock our nation's potential. I hope that by sharing my story with the media, I can inspire more people to support our mission of elevating women’s football,” she added.

Aditi concluded her 17-year career earlier this year, reflecting on the lessons learned and experiences gained throughout her journey.

“There have been many ups and downs, with the challenges often outweighing the victories. Building a career in women’s football in India has been tough. The experiences I gathered as a goalkeeper taught me resilience and forward-thinking, which I apply in my daily life. One of my key takeaways is to ‘control the controllable,’” she said.

Aditi made history as the first Indian woman to play in a European league when she joined West Ham United, all while pursuing a master’s degree in sports management at Loughborough University.

“My journey was filled with obstacles. I decided to pursue Sports Management in 2014 while already part of the senior women’s team. I realized I wanted a career in sports and began attending trials in London while interning, which led to my opportunity with West Ham United,” Aditi explained.

Through her foundation, Aditi aims to leave a lasting legacy in football with ‘She Kicks’ and encourages more individuals to contribute to the growth of women’s football in India.

“I founded the ‘She Kicks Football League’ to share my insights not only from my sport but also from my education. ‘She Kicks’ represents my legacy, and we have also established an academy. My primary focus is on creating opportunities for women, and I hope to gain more support from sponsors and investors to extend our reach into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities,” Aditi concluded.