India Joins FIFA Women’s Development Programme for 2026

India Selected for FIFA Women’s Development Initiative

On April 23, India was announced as one of the twelve nations chosen by FIFA to participate in the FIFA Women’s Development Programme (Commercial Strategy 2026).

The other selected nations include Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Scotland, Canada, Mexico, Finland, Ghana, Jordan, Lithuania, and Paraguay, according to a statement from the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

FIFA confirmed India's participation following an application from AIFF, which was succeeded by a comprehensive presentation detailing the commercial strategy and plans.

The programme is set to take place online from May to October 2026, with FIFA customizing the course for various stakeholders involved in women's football throughout the nation.

With AIFF now partnered with a commercial entity, this initiative aims to provide clubs with essential tools and insights to establish sustainable models, while also preparing them for the forthcoming women’s club licensing system that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) intends to implement.

M Satyanarayan, Deputy Secretary General of AIFF, expressed, "This is an ideal moment to enhance the commercial aspects of women's football in India. The qualification of our three women’s teams (senior, U20, and U17) for the AFC Asian Cups highlights our potential, and the ASMITA U13 Women’s Football League has laid a strong foundation at the youth level.

He added, "With clubs receiving training on developing commercial strategies, securing sponsorships, and engaging fans, the entire ecosystem will benefit. We are thrilled to be selected for this initiative by FIFA and anticipate that clubs and stakeholders in women's football will gain significantly, especially with IWL clubs soon adhering to club licensing requirements set by the AFC."