Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 22: India has been selected among 12 countries for FIFA’s Women’s Development Programme (Commercial Strategy 2026), a move expected to boost the commercial growth and sustainability of women’s football in the country.

FIFA confirmed India’s inclusion after an application by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), followed by a detailed presentation outlining the country’s commercial strategy and future plans for the women’s game.

The programme, to be conducted online from May to October 2026, will be tailored by FIFA for stakeholders involved in women’s football across India.

The initiative aims to equip clubs with tools and knowledge to develop sustainable business models, while also helping them prepare for the women’s club licensing system proposed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

India joins Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Scotland, Canada, Mexico, Finland, Ghana, Jordan, Lithuania and Paraguay in the programme.

Welcoming the development, AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan said the selection comes at an important stage for women’s football in India.

He said the qualification of India’s senior, U-20 and U-17 women’s teams for their respective AFC Asian Cups reflected the country’s growing potential, while initiatives such as the ASMITA U-13 Women’s Football League have helped strengthen the grassroots base.

Satyanarayan said the programme would help clubs develop commercial strategies, secure sponsorships and enhance fan engagement, benefiting the wider women’s football ecosystem.

He added the initiative would be particularly significant with Indian Women’s League clubs set to come under AFC-mandated club licensing requirements in the near future.