All India Football Federation confirmed on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, that India has been selected as one of 12 countries for the FIFA Women’s Development Programme under its Commercial Strategy 2026. The initiative aims to strengthen the commercial side of women’s football, and India’s inclusion marks a significant step in the sport’s growth pathway in the country.
The programme, which will run online from May to October 2026, is designed to support key stakeholders across women’s football. It will focus on building commercial awareness, helping clubs develop sustainable financial models, and improving areas such as sponsorship acquisition and fan engagement.
India joins a diverse group of nations including Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Scotland, Canada, Mexico, Finland, Ghana, Jordan, Lithuania and Paraguay. FIFA confirmed India’s participation following an application by the AIFF, supported by a detailed presentation outlining the country’s commercial plans and long-term vision for women’s football.
AIFF Deputy Secretary General M. Satyanarayan said, “I think this is the perfect time for us to grow the commercial aspect of women’s football in India as a whole. The qualification of three of our women’s teams (senior, Under-20, and U-17) for the AFC Asian Cups in their respective age categories shows our potential, and the ASMITA U-13 Women’s Football League has helped us create the base at the youth level.”
He added, “Now that the clubs will receive this kind of capacity building on developing commercial strategies, securing sponsorships, engaging fans, and much more, the whole ecosystem will benefit.”
Satyanarayan also welcomed FIFA’s initiative, saying, “I think the initiative by FIFA is excellent, and we are glad to have been selected for it. We hope that the clubs and stakeholders in women’s football will benefit from this, especially with IWL clubs coming under club licensing requirements very soon, as set by the AFC.”
Women’s football in India has seen steady progress in recent years, particularly at the youth level. The qualification of teams across age groups for continental tournaments has added momentum, while grassroots initiatives have helped widen the base.