In a major boost to grassroots football development in India, FIFA, the global governing body for football, inaugurated its first-ever talent academy in the country on Saturday. The initiative, launched in collaboration with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Telangana government, aims to provide world-class training to emerging young football talents across the nation. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the three entities to mark the start of this ambitious project, which FIFA described as a reinforcement of India’s commitment to inclusive and grassroots-level football development.
According to an official statement by AIFF, the residential academy will be housed at the Gachibowli Stadium complex in Hyderabad. It will cater to 60 elite youth players, including 30 boys in the Under-14 category and 30 girls in the Under-16 category. The programme will provide not only high-performance football training throughout the year, but also comprehensive support in terms of accommodation, education, medical care, nutrition, and mental health. Each category will include 10 players from the host state, Telangana.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey hailed the launch as a “defining moment” for football in India. He emphasized that the opening of India’s first FIFA Talent Academy for girls and second for boys marks a significant milestone in achieving gender-equal football development. The initiative, supported by FIFA’s Global Talent Development Scheme, aims to identify, nurture, and empower young talents from across the country, especially female players.
Chaubey further stated that the academy would play a crucial role in helping India realise its dream of qualifying for the FIFA U-17 Men’s and Women’s World Cups. While the AIFF will take the lead in coordinating operations, technical structure, scouting, and training curriculum in partnership with FIFA, the Telangana Sports Authority will manage infrastructure, logistics, educational support, financial assistance, and player welfare.
The establishment of this academy represents a significant step in India’s football journey and underlines the growing international support for the country’s grassroots and youth football development.
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