Pruthviraj at 12:03, 6 January 2026

2026-01-06T12:03:39Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2014}}
{{ infobox football club
| clubname = AIFF Academy
| image =
| fullname = AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy
| founded = {{start date and age|2013}} (''as AIFF Elite Academy'')<br/>{{start date and age|2023}} (''re-established as AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy'')
| dissolved = {{start date and age|2017}} (''merged into [[Indian Arrows]]'')
| ground = Chowgule Sports Centre, [[Goa]]
| league = [[Youth League (India)|Elite Youth League]]
}}

The '''AIFF Academy''' is the elite academy of the regional [[All India Football Federation|AIFF]] affiliated [[association football|football]] academies.

Founded on 1 February 2013, the '''AIFF Elite Academy''' started as a youth development project between the AIFF and [[FIFA]].<ref name="Elite Academy">{{cite web|title=India gear up for Qatar in AFC U-19 qualifiers|url=http://www.firstpost.com/sports/india-gear-up-for-qatar-in-afc-u-19-qualifiers-1151115.html|website=FirstPost|access-date=11 December 2014|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154000/http://www.firstpost.com/sports/india-gear-up-for-qatar-in-afc-u-19-qualifiers-1151115.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name="afta">{{Cite web |title=AIFF-FIFA academy to be launched on November 21 in Bhubaneswar |url=https://www.the-aiff.com/index.php/article/aiff-fifa-academy-to-be-launched-on-november-21-in-bhubaneswar |date=15 November 2023 |website=AIFF }}</ref>

==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.<ref name="September 2011">{{cite web|title=AIFF-FIFA to set up academies in India|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/AIFF-FIFA-to-set-up-academies-in-India/articleshow/9923748.cms|website=The Times of India|access-date=11 December 2014|archive-date=30 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630204458/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/AIFF-FIFA-to-set-up-academies-in-India/articleshow/9923748.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> The first phase was starting of regional academies in [[Bangalore]], [[Kolkata]], [[Mumbai]], [[Delhi]] and [[Sikkim]].<ref name="September 2011"/> 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.<ref name="September 2011"/>

Bangalore, Kolkata, and Delhi regional academies delayed while the Mumbai Academy was started with future [[India national under-23 football team|India U23]] coach, [[Arthur Papas]].<ref name="Early Delays">{{cite web|last1=Kapadia|first1=Novy|title=A look at the AIFF's regional academies|url=http://www.sportskeeda.com/football/a-look-at-the-aiffs-regional-academies|website=SportsKeeda|access-date=11 December 2014|archive-date=5 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105021741/http://www.sportskeeda.com/football/a-look-at-the-aiffs-regional-academies|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Early Delays"/>

Eventually, the AIFF Elite Academy was launched in 2013.<ref name="Elite Academy"/> 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.<ref name="afta"/> The academy was set up at Odisha Football Academy in [[Bhubaneswar]], Odisha.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AIFF signs MoU with Odisha Government on FIFA-AIFF Academy in presence of Arsene Wenger |url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/aiff-signs-mou-with-odisha-government-on-fifa-aiff-academy-in-presence-of-arsene-wenger |date=21 November 2023 |website=AIFF }}</ref>

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 [[G. M. C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium|Gachibowli Stadium]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=India’s second FIFA Talent Academy, first for girls, launched in Hyderabad |url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/indias-second-fifa-talent-academy-first-for-girls-launched-in-hyderabad |date=2 August 2025 |website=AIFF }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Youth League (India)|Youth League]]
* [[B.C. Roy Trophy|Junior National Football Championship]]
* [[Subroto Cup]]
* [[Football in India]]
* [[Indian football league system]]
* [[History of Indian football]]
* [[Reliance Foundation Development League]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Football in India}}
{{National Football Centres}}
{{Youth League (India)}}

{{coord missing|India}}

[[Category:Football academies in India]]
[[Category:Football academies in Asia]]
[[Category:2013 establishments in India]]
[[Category:2017 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:2023 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Youth football in India]]

AIFF Academy - Revision history

Pruthviraj at 12:03, 6 January 2026