The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has received support from the Sports Authority of India and the Sports Ministry for plans of sending the Women’s National Team for the 2027 FIFA World Cup.
The detailed plan devised by AIFF endorsed and supported by the two bodies will constitute a concrete and actionable roadmap that will work upon the development of the women’s national team and qualify for the biggest footballing event for women in 2027. Supporting the development, AIFF president Praful Patel is of the conviction that the Women’s National team is more likely to qualify for the World Cup before the Men’s team does.
AIFF general secretary Kushal Das in an interview told PTI: “We have laid a detailed plan for the (current) U-18 girls in our attempt to qualify for the 2027 World Cup. The plan has been endorsed and supported by the Ministry of Sports and SAI, for which we stay eternally grateful.”
With the goal of their growth in mind, the federation has been working on the all-round development of women’s football in the country. The endeavours have been apparent, with the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to be hosted by India during October and November in 2022. The tournament was scheduled for 2021, but the pandemic forced the organisers and AIFF to postpone it by a year. Along with the U-17 World Cup in 2022, India is also scheduled to host the 2022 edition of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Speaking of the U-17 WC in 2022, he seems confident that the event will leave behind a legacy allowing the females to indulge more in the sport and bring change to the paradigm of sporting culture in India.
Das said, “We want to carry this message to all girls who aspire to play the sport, that the football federation stands by them and wants to see them compete at the highest level.”