Former France international Vikash Dhorasoo has called for India to widen its football talent pool and develop a long-term plan for the sport as the country prepares to host Brazil at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium. With Brazil’s star-studded squad set to play India on Saturday, Dhorasoo said the occasion should be used to think beyond the significance of a single match and focus on developing Indian football.

Dhorasoo, who has Indian roots and represented France at the 2006 World Cup, said playing against top teams can help India progress but stressed that domestic football must remain a priority. “Each game has its own importance and helps you to progress,” he said, while adding that facing the world’s best teams should not overshadow the importance of local football.

He also advocated giving more Indian players opportunities to gain experience abroad and creating a broader pathway for talent. According to Dhorasoo, India needs to establish a clear long-term project that can help develop players and provide greater exposure beyond the domestic game.

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The former midfielder pointed to Ryan Williams as an example of how players from the Indian diaspora can contribute to the national team. Williams, who was born in Australia, completed his switch to represent India at senior level after FIFA approved his change of association. He scored on his India debut and found the net again in India’s 1-1 draw against Panama last week.

Dhorasoo said he could have represented India during his own playing career had such an opportunity existed at the time. He also referred to players with Indian heritage, including DR Congo international Samuel Moutoussamy, while names such as Yan Dhanda and Sarpreet Singh have also featured in discussions about the wider pool. However, ancestry or OCI status alone does not establish eligibility, with FIFA rules and Indian citizenship requirements also applying.

For Dhorasoo, expanding that pool would require India to create a project capable of attracting eligible players and giving them confidence in the national team’s future. “First of all, the possibility must exist to open the conversation with the players,” he said, stressing the need to show them a strong long-term vision for Indian football as the country prepares for its high-profile meeting with Brazil.

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