AIFF Academy

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AIFF Academy
Full nameAIFF-FIFA Talent Academy
Founded2013;12 years ago (2013) (as AIFF Elite Academy)
2023;2 years ago (2023) (re-established as AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy)
Dissolved2017;8 years ago (2017) (merged into Indian Arrows )
GroundChowgule Sports Centre, Goa
League Elite Youth League

The AIFF Academy is the elite academy of the regional AIFF affiliated football academies.

Contents

Founded on 1 February 2013, the AIFF Elite Academy started as a youth development project between the AIFF and FIFA. [1] The Elite Academy is the final frontier for players who train at the AIFF regional academies in various parts of India. It was re-established as the AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy in 2023. [2]

AIFF Elite Academy

In September 2011, it was announced that both All India Football Federation and FIFA would work together to set up various regional academies and one elite academy in India with the goal of developing youth footballers in the country. [3] The first phase was starting of regional academies in Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi and Sikkim. [3] The second phase saw Chennai, Chandigarh, and Kerala getting academies by March 2013. Each academy consisted of 30-35 under-14 players who would eventually develop to the further youth stages. [3]

Bangalore, Kolkata, and Delhi regional academies delayed while the Mumbai Academy was started with future India U23 coach, Arthur Papas. [4] The reason given for the delay was due to the rampant age-cheating during trials for the regional academies. Of the 120 players selected after playing in the Subroto Cup and other youth competitions, 84 were found to be over-aged and not even acceptable for the under-16 category. [4]

Eventually, the AIFF Elite Academy was launched in 2013. [1] It was gradually integrated in the Indian Arrows.

AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy

In 2023, AIFF in association with FIFA decided to set up an academy under the FIFA Talent Development Scheme. The academy was inaugurated by Arsene Wenger, the Chief of Global Football Development in FIFA. [2] The academy was set up at Odisha Football Academy in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. [5]

In 2025, the second FIFA Talent Academy, which also includes the first academy for girls', was opened at Hyderabad. The academy will be located at Gachibowli Stadium. [6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "India gear up for Qatar in AFC U-19 qualifiers". FirstPost. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  2. 1 2 "AIFF-FIFA academy to be launched on November 21 in Bhubaneswar". AIFF. 15 November 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "AIFF-FIFA to set up academies in India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  4. 1 2 Kapadia, Novy. "A look at the AIFF's regional academies". SportsKeeda. Archived from the original on 5 January 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  5. ↑ "AIFF signs MoU with Odisha Government on FIFA-AIFF Academy in presence of Arsene Wenger". AIFF. 21 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "India's second FIFA Talent Academy, first for girls, launched in Hyderabad". AIFF. 2 August 2025.
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