All India Football Federation seeks approval to rename as Football Federation of Bharat

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) voted at a Special General Body Meeting to approach the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports with a proposal to change its name to the Football Federation of Bharat (FFB). President Kalyan Chaubey said the change requires clearance from the sports ministry and later from FIFA, citing similar re‑branding in Turkey and the Czech Republic.

The meeting also approved the 2026‑27 Indian Super League season to begin on 4 September, featuring 14 clubs in a full home‑and‑away format. While the league’s schedule will be set by the managing committee, the AIFF is still negotiating the competition’s commercial model. Clubs have offered a club‑led arrangement, proposing to pay the federation ₹15.4 crore annually while retaining AIFF’s regulatory responsibilities, after rejecting a bid from Genius Sports.