All India Football Federation and Ryan Group launch school grassroots football programme in India

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Ryan Group of Institutions inaugurated the School Grassroots Football Programme on 3 August 2026 at the Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru. The launch follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed on 18 February 2026, under which AIFF will supply technical expertise and certified coaches, while the Ryan Group will support player education at the FIFA‑AIFF Talent Academies in Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar.

Coaches from the Ryan Group in Delhi and Bengaluru completed AIFF’s coaching education and certification, enabling them to deliver a new football and futsal curriculum across 25 Ryan Group schools in ten cities during the 2026‑27 academic year. The programme aims to provide thousands of students with structured, age‑appropriate training, emphasising futsal, girls’ football and values such as teamwork and discipline. AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan said the initiative is a “significant step” toward building India’s football future, and Ryan Group CEO Ryan Pinto highlighted its role in bringing quality football education directly into schools.