Overview

• FIFA, the All India Football Federation and the Telangana Government signed an MoU on August 2 to inaugurate the talent academy at Hyderabad’s Gachibowli Stadium Complex under FIFA’s global Talent Development Scheme.
• The residential centre will combine high-performance coaching with formal education, medical care, nutrition and psychological support.
• The inaugural cohort includes 60 players—30 under-14 boys and 30 under-16 girls, with 10 selected from Telangana in each category.
• AIFF will manage technical operations, talent scouting and training curriculum while the Sports Authority of Telangana oversees infrastructure, logistics and player welfare.
• The project aligns with AIFF’s Vision 2047 roadmap and aims to bolster India’s bid to qualify for the U-17 men’s and women’s FIFA World Cups.