India selected for FIFA Women’s Development Programme

India on Wednesday became one of the twelve countries selected by FIFA for the FIFA Women’s Development Program (Commercial Strategy 2026).

The other countries are Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Scotland, Canada, Mexico, Finland, Ghana, Jordan, Lithuania and Paraguay.

India’s inclusion in the program was confirmed by FIFA following an initial application from AIFF, followed by a detailed presentation of the commercial strategy and future plans. The program will be held online from May to October 2026. The course itself will be tailor-made by FIFA for the various stakeholders in women’s football across the country.

Now that AIFF is supported by a commercial partner, this program will equip clubs with the tools and knowledge needed to build sustainable models, while preparing them for the upcoming women’s club licensing system that AFC (Asian Football Confederation) plans to introduce.

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AIFF Deputy General Secretary 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 under-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 foundation at the youth level.

“As clubs get this kind of capacity building in developing commercial strategies, securing sponsorship, engaging fans and much more, the entire ecosystem will benefit,” he said.

“I think FIFA’s initiative is excellent, and we are pleased to have been selected for it. We hope that clubs and stakeholders in women’s football will benefit from this, especially as IWL clubs will very soon be subject to club licensing requirements as set by the AFC.”

Published on April 22, 2026