Can the Unity Cup put Indian football in the spotlight? episode artwork

EPISODE · May 27, 2026 · 22 MIN

Can the Unity Cup put Indian football in the spotlight?

from More than the Score · host BBC World Service

India will take part in the Unity Cup, an invitational four-nation tournament in London. Joining them will be Nigeria, Jamaica and Zimbabwe. The event, launched in 2002, is designed as a celebration of communities with a large diaspora in the city. Football in India has endured a difficult period, however. The Indian Super League was shortened after starting late. There's a lack of quality foreign players, while a seven-month winless streak for the national team only ended in March 2026.India's captain, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, tells Mani Djazmi why competing at the Unity Cup - which is being held at The Valley, home to Charlton Athletic - is important after failing to qualify for 2027's AFC Asian Cup. Gurpreet Singh also discusses why Bengaluru FC teammate Ryan Williams' decision to relinquish his Australian passport to play for India has been welcomed within Indian football.More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the World Cup to F1, golf to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like heavyweight boxing champion Fabio Wardley, Tour de France winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, trailblazing Samoan athlete Alex Rose and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email [email protected], or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

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