AIFF and Odisha Government Renew Partnership to Boost Youth Football Development

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has renewed its partnership with the Odisha Government to enhance youth football development through a new five-year MoU. This collaboration aims to build on previous successes, including notable achievements from the AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy. With a structured framework in place, both organizations are committed to elevating Indian football by providing better training and opportunities for young players. The renewed agreement promises to integrate international standards and clear pathways to professional football, ensuring a bright future for aspiring athletes in the region.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 11, 2026, 02:03 IST

Strengthening Youth Football in India

New Delhi [India], May 10: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has renewed its five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Sports and Youth Services (DSYS) of the Odisha Government, aiming to enhance their collaboration in elite youth football.

The agreement was formalized by Vijay Yeddula, the Director of Sports at DSYS, and M Satyanarayan, the Deputy Secretary General of AIFF. AIFF's Technical Director, Syed Sabir Pasha, was also in attendance during the signing ceremony, as reported in a press release.

Expressing gratitude, AIFF's Deputy Secretary General Satyanarayan stated, “We sincerely appreciate the Government of Odisha and DSYS for their ongoing support in renewing this partnership. The achievements from our initial cohort are impressive—players trained at the AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy have progressed to elite academies and represented India at the U17 level by the age of 15. We have already witnessed talented youngsters from Odisha making significant strides. This is just the beginning. With this renewed agreement, we aim to build on our success and elevate Indian football further.”

Since the first MoU was established in November 2023, the AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy has shown remarkable outcomes, including a semi-final finish in the U17 AIFF Elite Youth League 2024-25, four players being part of the India U17 national team, and an Odisha girl advancing to the India U19 Women’s National Team—all achieved in less than two years.

The new agreement introduces a more organized framework that outlines specific roles, governance structures, performance metrics, and financial obligations. Supported by FIFA's Talent Development Scheme, the academy will continue to incorporate international development standards, sports science, and clear pathways to professional football.

AIFF will oversee the technical and operational facets of player development, while DSYS will offer institutional, financial, and infrastructural support, as stated in the release.