AIFF and AMM Foundation Join Forces to Boost Grassroots Football in India

Collaboration Announcement

On September 18, 2026, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) partnered with the A.M. Murugappa Chettiar (AMM) Foundation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This collaboration aims to enhance grassroots football development and create structured pathways for emerging players in Tamil Nadu and throughout India.

Focus on Grassroots Development

This joint initiative is designed to increase opportunities for children to engage in organized football at the grassroots level. It will also establish a systematic framework for grassroots competitions, talent scouting, player development, and progression.

Organizing Grassroots Tournaments

Under this partnership, AIFF will facilitate the organization of grassroots tournaments, allowing young athletes to regularly compete, develop their skills, and showcase their talents in a structured football environment.

Talent Identification and Development Plan

A significant aspect of this collaboration is the introduction of a Talent Identification and Pathway Plan. Players who show promise during grassroots competitions and scouting will be recognized and tracked as part of this talent pathway.

Promising individuals will be invited to participate in AIFF Talent Winter and Summer Camps, where they will receive training from experienced coaches alongside other identified talents from across the nation. These camps will focus on enhancing their technical, tactical, physical, and psychological skills, while allowing AIFF's Talent Identification team to monitor their long-term development.

Enhancing the Scouting Framework

As part of the MoU, AIFF will also host a Talent Identification Workshop for scouts linked with the AMM Foundation in Chennai. This workshop aims to improve scouts' expertise in player identification, evaluation, and monitoring, while introducing them to AIFF’s Talent Identification methods and framework.

The initiative will also bolster the local scouting ecosystem by enhancing the skills of scouts and establishing a more consistent and structured approach to identifying talented players at the grassroots level.

Statements from Key Officials

AIFF Deputy General M Satyanarayan commented on the partnership, stating, "Our recent focus has been on youth development, leading to three of our youth teams qualifying for the Asian Cup after two decades. This initiative with AMM will further strengthen the local scouting ecosystem by enhancing the skills of scouts and creating a more consistent approach to identifying talent at the grassroots level."

Veeru Murugappan, Head of Sport at AMM Foundation, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, saying, "With our recent partnership extension with Borussia Dortmund and this cooperation with AIFF, we are excited to leverage football as a means for social change. Together with AIFF, we aim to expand our grassroots program and positively impact more lives soon."

H Narayanan, Senior Assistant Vice President & Chief Executive of AMM Foundation, added, "This partnership with AIFF is a significant milestone for the Murugappa Youth Football Academy. It will enhance the football ecosystem by improving capacities in sports management, scouting, and talent identification."