FIFA chief Infantino applauds PM Modi's football session in Sikkim
New Delhi, April 29
FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Wednesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's passion for sports, sharing a photograph of the PM engaging in a game of football with children in Sikkim.
On Tuesday PM Modi joined his "young friends" in playing football in Gangtok, Sikkim, calling it a lovely morning and an "energising session". Sharing photos of his game session in a post on X, PM Modi said, "Nothing like playing some football with my young friends in Sikkim on a lovely Gangtok morning!"
In another post, PM Modi said, "Clearly, an energising football session with these youngsters!"
The FIFA chief, known for his push to expand the game's footprint in South Asia, shared the image on his Instagram with a caption, "Great to see @narendramodi play our beautiful sport. Football truly unites the world."
Football enjoys immense popularity in the northeastern region and stands as one of the area's most significant sports interests, frequently competing with or even outshining cricket in states such as Sikkim, Mizoram, Manipur, and Meghalaya.
This isn't the first time the FIFA president has acknowledged PM Modi's influence. The two have met on several occasions on international forums.
Their most notable meetings was in December 2018 at the G-20 summit in Argentina and again in December 2024 in Kuwait.
During the meeting at the G-20 summit in Argentina, FIFA chief gifted a PM Modi a personalised football jersey with his name on its back.
"Impossible to come to Argentina and not think about football. Argentinian players are tremendously popular in India. Today, received this jersey from @FIFAcom President Gianni Infantino. I thank him for the kind gesture," PM Modi had said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Nothing against sports diplomacy, but we need real infrastructure for football in states like Manipur and Sikkim. A photo-op with kids doesn't build stadiums or grassroots coaching. Hope this FIFA praise translates into actual development, not just PR.
As someone from the Northeast, I can tell you football here is not just a sport—it's life. Seeing PM Modi actually playing with kids in Sikkim and FIFA taking notice feels surreal. But we need more than just one session. Let's make India a football powerhouse! 🙌⚽
This is wonderful for Indian football. Infantino has been pushing South Asia for years, and Modi's engagement sends a strong signal. The Northeast has massive potential—proper investment could make India a regional power. Let's hope this isn't just a one-off moment.
Honestly, this is a clever move by Modi—sports diplomacy at its finest. Football in the Northeast is massive, and this kind of international recognition can only help. But I wish we'd see similar enthusiasm for local leagues and academies on the ground. Baby steps, I guess! 😊
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.