Hyderabad : In a historic and game-changing development for Indian football, FIFA has launched its first-ever Talent Academy dedicated exclusively to girls, situated at the Gachibowli Stadium Complex in Hyderabad. This initiative is a collaboration between FIFA, the All India Football Federation (AIFF), and the Government of Telangana, unveiled on August 2, 2025, during the Telangana Sports Conclave.
The newly inaugurated academy is only India’s second FIFA-backed Talent Academy and the first fully dedicated to nurturing young female football talents. It aims to provide year-round, high-performance training and holistic development opportunities to 60 elite footballers — split evenly between 30 boys (under-14) and 30 girls (under-16), with a focus on empowering girls from Telangana and beyond.
The facility offers comprehensive support including professional coaching, education, medical care, nutrition, and mental wellness to ensure players develop optimally both on and off the field. The AIFF oversees the academy’s operations, scouting, and training curriculum, while the Telangana Sports Authority manages the infrastructure, logistics, and player welfare.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey highlighted the massive significance of this launch, stating that it marks “a defining moment” in the journey toward equitable football development in India. The academy is designed to inspire a new generation of footballers who aspire to represent the country on major international stages such as the FIFA U-17 World Cups.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy called the academy “a game-changer for girls in football,” emphasizing that it is one of the very few such FIFA initiatives globally focused on female talent. With access to elite infrastructure and a clear pathway to the highest levels of the sport, this platform aims to revolutionize grassroots football in India and align with the AIFF’s “Vision 2047” to establish the country as a leading football nation.
This Talent Academy stands as a beacon of inclusive, structured, and sustainable growth in Indian football, promising to elevate standards and unlock the true potential of young footballers across the nation.
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