New Delhi: On Wednesday, FIFA, the global governing body for football, announced the selection of India and 11 other nations for its Women’s Development Programme. The participating countries include Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Scotland, Canada, Mexico, Finland, Ghana, Jordan, Lithuania, and Paraguay.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) secured India’s spot through an application process that involved submitting a comprehensive commercial strategy and outlining future objectives. The online programme is scheduled from May to October 2026 and will be customized by FIFA to support key figures in women’s football within the country.
According to the AIFF, with a new commercial partnership in place, the initiative aims to provide clubs with essential resources and expertise to establish viable operations. It will also ready them for the forthcoming women’s club licensing framework from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan stated that this opportunity aligns perfectly with efforts to enhance the business side of women’s football in India. He highlighted the qualification of three national women’s teams—senior, under-20, and under-17—for their respective AFC Asian Cups as evidence of the country’s capabilities. Additionally, the ASMITA under-13 Women’s Football League has strengthened youth development.
Satyanarayan added that the programme will offer training in areas like crafting commercial plans, attracting sponsors, and boosting fan involvement, benefiting the entire sector. He praised FIFA’s effort and expressed optimism that it will aid clubs and participants, particularly as AFC’s licensing rules approach for Indian Women’s League teams.
