India has once qualified by default, as other countries in their qualification stage but backed out to play at FIFA World Cup Finals of 1950 in Brazil, for an undisclosed reasons.
The India National Football Team as governed by All India Football Federation (AIFF) has played and won several FIFA organized matches and tournaments but never appeared or even make an attempt to play in FIFA World Cup after the more than 70 years of her technical qualification.
As a kid, I would not forget some of the funny reasons we were told that made Indians not to appear in FIFA World Cup, but now we are matured.
Who knows why India, the once considered, the most successful football team in the Asian region never (wanted or allowed) to feature in FIFA World Cup?

johnaruson:

As a kid, I would not forget some of the funny reasons we were told that made Indians not to appear in FIFA World Cup,

They played a shot towards the goal post and the ball turned to a lion head and the goalkeeper ran away.

Nonso92:


They played a shot towards the goal post and the ball turned to a lion head and the goalkeeper ran away.

The Op said we are all matured.


Except you

FIFA won't allow them do 5minutes dance after each goal

India don't know anything about football both male and female... They should focus on the one sport they know very well: cricket

Indians prefer to play bare footed. They don't want to put on boots

India was banned by FIFA because they refused to play with soccer boots in one qualifying match back then ! Preferring to play bare footed .They have since been unbanned to play ( with boots , of course ),only they haven't been able to qualify for major FIFA tournament except the ones they hosted like the under17 in 2017 .

But i'm sticking to the 99-1 story too .