India’s first FIFA Talent Academy for girls was launched in Hyderabad after the AIFF and the Government of Telangana signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 2nd August on Saturday during the first Telangana Sports Conclave at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre.
Hon’ble Chief Minister of Telangana, Shri A Revanth Reddy, was present to grace the occasion, along with AIFF President Shri Kalyan Chaubey and Principal Secretary of I&C and IT, Government of Telangana, Shri Jayesh Ranjan, in the presence of eminent dignitaries, sports leaders, and policymakers.
The initiative is a key component of FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme (TDS) and will help provide elite training to talented footballers who have been scouted from various parts of the country, reinforcing India’s commitment to inclusive and structured grassroots development.
The academy will be located at the Gachibowli Stadium Complex in Hyderabad and will offer year-round high-performance training, with residential facilities, education, medical care, nutrition, and mental wellness to 60 elite players – 30 boys (U14) and 30 girls (U16), including 10 players from Telangana in each category.
AIFF President Shri Kalyan Chaubey said, This academy will not only groom elite athletes but also inspire a generation of footballers who can dream of representing India at the highest levels. It is a proud day for Indian football and a strong step forward towards our goal of qualifying for the U17 men’s and women’s FIFA World Cups.”
AIFF will lead the operations, technical framework, talent scouting, and training curriculum in coordination with FIFA. The Sports Authority of Telangana (SATG) will oversee infrastructure, logistics, education, financial, and welfare support.
