Football Research in India: A Bibliometric Mapping of Trends, Themes, and Collaborations (2000-2025)

International Journal of Economics and Management Studies

© 2026 by SSRG - IJEMS Journal

Volume 13 Issue 3

Year of Publication : 2026

Authors : Vyan Aggarwal

10.14445/23939125/IJEMS-V13I3P101

How to Cite?

Vyan Aggarwal, "Football Research in India: A Bibliometric Mapping of Trends, Themes, and Collaborations (2000-2025)," SSRG International Journal of Economics and Management Studies, vol. 13,  no. 3, pp. 1-12, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23939125/IJEMS-V13I3P101

Abstract:

Football is considered the most popular sport in the world, but in India, the academic literature on football is still scattered, especially at the grassroots level. Although the number of academic articles on football in India has increased over the last decade, little attention has been paid to the grassroots economics, management structures, and long-term sustainability. In this context, the current study aims to fill the existing gap by carrying out a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the existing literature on football in India, focusing on economics, management, development, and sustainability. Using the Scopus database, 960 peer-reviewed, open-access English-language journal articles published between 2000 and 2025 were analyzed using VOSviewer. Bibliometric analysis methods were applied to analyze publication patterns, country-level collaboration networks, co-authorship patterns, thematic mapping, and the evolution of research themes over time. The results show a significant increase in football-related studies in India since 2018, accompanied by a shift in thematic focus. Seven major research themes emerged, spanning governance and corporate responsibility, performance science and biomechanics, gender and health studies, youth and entrepreneurship, digital innovation, sustainability narratives, and pandemic-related disruption. The collaboration networks depict the continued dominance of Western research hubs; however, increasing participation has been observed from India and other Global South countries. The literature showcases a shift from macro-level policy discourse like governance, corporate social responsibility, and globalization to interdisciplinary applied areas such as performance, health, gender, technology, and digital engagement. By systematically mapping the intellectual landscape of football research in India, this study provides a structured foundation for future inquiry and offers evidence-informed insights to support grassroots football development.

Keywords:

Bibliometric Analysis, Football, Scopus, Thematic Mapping, VOSviewer.

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