The update says Cafu spent time with girls supported by the Dreaming in Slums Foundation, a programme that uses football to build life skills for young people in vulnerable situations. That matters.
Too often, grassroots football is discussed only as a talent pipeline. But the best projects do more than produce players:
That is where social inclusion stops being a slogan and starts becoming visible.
Reports suggest Cafu also urged greater investment in the future of football in India. That point should land.
Countries do not build football cultures through big events alone. They do it through:
Indian football has long looked for a breakthrough moment, but lasting progress usually comes from patient groundwork rather than quick fixes. If investment reaches neighbourhood-level projects, the sport becomes wider before it becomes stronger.
The most encouraging part of this story is not nostalgia around a World Cup winner. It is the focus on girls who are too often pushed to the margins of the sport.
When football is used well, it can open doors far beyond the pitch. It can offer routine, self-belief and visibility. In that sense, Cafu’s reported remarks feel bigger than a one-day appearance; they underline what the women’s and girls’ game still needs most - attention, resources and trust.
The next test is simple: whether warm words in Mumbai lead to deeper support. If they do, the real legacy will not be a headline, but the next generation stepping onto the pitch believing the game belongs to them too.