The Indian women’s football team will qualify for a FIFA World Cup before the men’s team does, according to All India Football Federation (AIFF) executive committee member Valanka Alemao. She has also urged the media to give more coverage and attention to women’s football in the country as their results warrant it.

Speaking to Sports Now in an interview, she said, “I always believe that the women’s team is going to reach the FIFA World Cup before the men’s. So that’s something I stick to.”

Valanka’s statement has meaning, and it does make sense if one just does a simple Google search to check the women’s team’s current FIFA ranking. India are currently 69th, and they also qualified for the AFC Asian Cup in the senior, U17 and U20 categories on merit.

The U20 team qualified after a 20-year wait. The U17 team made history by advancing past the group stage for the first time.

“The women have shown by three teams being qualified in the same year. It has never happened before,” Alemao said.

“So the hunger, the quest to perform and what the women can do. If you have seen the matches and you have seen the kind of hard work and dedication they have put in, I think it’s just a matter of time.”

When pointed out to her that the men’s team continues to command a greater share of attention and resources despite poor results, Alemao did not dispute the claim of imbalance.

“A lot has to be done. We have to give them more attention,” she said.

“I think even media needs to play a very, very important role to give them that attention.”

The Churchill Brothers CEO was less forthcoming on the women’s league calendar, where the postponement of IWL 2 has left players and clubs without clarity. Meanwhile, even the IWL has been postponed. There has been no confirmation on the commercial partner too, despite Capri Sports being the sole bidder for IWL and IWL 2.

“All these decisions are being worked upon,” she said, remarking that the structure was a work in progress.

“Things have to become more systematic. And the leagues have to be structured in a proper manner.”

Alemao is also quick to point out that she is the first woman to be elected to the AIFF’s executive committee in 83 years. According to her, the role is the start of a wider shift rather than a personal milestone.

“I need to build a path where more women administrators join in,” she said. “I don’t want to be the first and the last one here,” she said.

She also ruled out a run at the presidency for now. “I do not think so as of now. Because I have too many things to do,” she said.

“I don’t think I’m prepared for it as we speak,” she concluded.