India sees Asian Cup as stepping stone towards future dream


FILE PHOTO: Indian coach Stephen Constantine talks to reporters after their World Cup qualifying soccer match against Guam in Bengaluru November 12, 2015. REUTERS/Robin Paxton

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India are hoping to use the Asian Cup as a key building block towards realising a dream of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup finals but doubts remain over the quality of the side ahead of next month's continental showpiece in the United Arab Emirates.

India has a population of 1.3 billion but the nation's obsession with and success on the cricket pitch has left it a massive underachiever on the football field.

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