Goa To Host Ronaldo's Al-Nassr, Will Cr7 Save Indian Football? |First Sports With Rupha Ramani |N18G

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Indian football is in crisis. Clubs shutting down, ISL in turmoil, and fans losing faith. But now, a once-in-a-lifetime moment could change everything. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr is set to face FC Goa in the AFC Champions League 2, meaning the biggest superstar in football could finally play a competitive match in India. What does this mean for a struggling football ecosystem? Will Ronaldo’s presence spark a revival or only expose the cracks further? From fan frenzy to AIFF’s failures - Rupha Ramani looks at Indian football’s biggest test yet.  ---  Cristiano Ronaldo | Football | Al Nassr vs FC Goa | AFC Champions League 2 | First Sports | Rupha Ramani | Firstpost | Sports News  #cristianoronaldo #football #alnassr #fcgoa #afcchampionsleaguetwo #firstsports #rupharamani #sportsnews #firstpost   Firstpost is an Indian news and media website. Get all the incisive opinions, in-depth analyses and other visual stories that matter to you and the world right here on this channel.   Subscribe to Firstpost channel and press the bell icon to get notified when we go live.    https://www.youtube.com/@Firstpost  Follow Firstpost on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstpost/   Follow Firstpost on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firstpostin/   Follow Firstpost on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/firstpost  Follow Firstpost on WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va6zOIrEQIamseyg762V  # news #breaking #24x7

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00:00Indian football is staring at a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

00:04Cristiano Ronaldo, the biggest name in world football, could visit the country.

00:09Not for a brand campaign, not for an exhibition match, but for a full-blown competitive fixture.

00:15Al Nasser versus FC Goa in the AFC Champions League too.

00:19And the question is, could this then be the spark Indian football has been waiting for?

00:25For months, Indian football has been struggling.

00:27Apart from the women, of course, who have qualified for the AFC, both junior and senior editions of the Asia Cups.

00:34The men's team has been underwhelming.

00:36Governance has been chaotic and the future of the Indian Super League hangs in the balance.

00:41The AIFF is locked in a bitter fight with the league organisers.

00:45Clubs have suspended operations, salaries are frozen.

00:49Bengaluru FC and Chennai NFC are starting the process of taking a step back here.

00:53Now, 11 ISL clubs have threatened to shut down completely.

00:58This is as close to a collapse as it can get.

01:01But in the middle of this mess comes a lifeline.

01:04Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nasser drawn in the same group as FC Goa.

01:08If CR7 sets foot on Indian soil for a competitive match, the entire nation will go berserk.

01:17This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment for FC Goa.

01:20It's a unique opportunity to bring global attention to Indian football,

01:24giving the game the spotlight it has long needed.

01:27And he's right, because if there's one thing India guarantees, it's the craze for this sport.

01:36Just look at the Kolkata Derby.

01:38Mohan Bagan faced East Bengal in the Duran Cup quarterfinals.

01:42Tempers flared, punches flew, drama everywhere and a sold-out attendance.

01:48The match lived up to all expectations.

01:50Now, I'm not saying fighting means a good show.

01:53It just tells you the passion teams have for the sport.

01:56And what an iconic rivalry represents here in the country.

02:15We have the appetite, we have the passion.

02:17What's missing is governance.

02:19So imagine Ronaldo walking out in Goa.

02:22The financial boost will matter.

02:24The sponsorship rush will be key.

02:25But more importantly, this is a chance to force global attention onto Indian football.

02:33While the financial boost is important,

02:36the bigger picture is the opportunity this creates for long-term growth.

02:40The global attention, sponsorship interest and fan engagement from a moment like this

02:44helps strengthen the club's foundations, allowing us to invest in the future.

02:48Now, once that spotlight is here, AIFF can't hide anymore.

02:54And it's not just Ronaldo.

02:56Reports even suggest Lionel Messi could come to India later this year.

03:00An exhibition cricket match at the Wankere, the Wankere Stadium, which is in the Indian city of Mumbai.

03:06If all goes to plan, Messi might trade his football studs for cricket spikes.

03:10That's a fan event.

03:11But Ronaldo playing a competitive match.

03:13Now, that will be manic.

03:15For too long, Indian football has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

03:19Poor planning, poor results, poor execution and leadership.

03:24And a league in hot mess.

03:26Now, for the first time in years, it has a chance to be in the spotlight for the right reasons.

03:31Could this then be the wake-up call Indian football desperately needs?

03:35Despite the struggles of ISL, if a club can be pitted in the same group as Ronaldo's team,

03:40it just shows the merit Indian football still has.

03:44It's a test.

03:45A test for the AIFF, for the clubs and for the entire system.

03:49Because when the world's biggest footballer comes to play, the world will be watching.

03:54The question is, will Indian football remain a circus of mismanagement

03:57or will it grab this chance to prove it belongs on the global stage?

04:02The passion is undeniable.

04:04The fans unstoppable here.

04:06It's time for the game in India to finally match that fire.

04:27The first post now available in nine languages on YouTube.

04:46English

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04:56Italian

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05:05Go to Settings.

05:10Click on Audio Track and select a language of your choice.

05:13Be the first to know what's happening around you in your first language.

05:20First Post

05:43–

06:01Push in your community.

06:02Could younten a few more thoughts but you get back to the speaker of this young man in front of the stage?

06:07Do it Пот

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