AIFF Approaches India Government To Change Its Name To 'Football Federation Of Bharat'

Published 20 June 2026 · sports

AIFF Approaches India Government To Change Its Name To 'Football Federation Of Bharat' Published By, Last Updated: June 20, 2026, 17:27 IST AIFF moves to

AIFF Approaches India Government To Change Its Name To 'Football Federation Of Bharat' Published By, Last Updated: June 20, 2026, 17:27 IST AIFF moves to rename itself Football Federation of Bharat, seeks approval from Sports Ministry and FIFA. AIFF Logo - Representational Image The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has initiated the process of changing its name to the Football Federation of Bharat (FFB) after the proposal received approval during a Special General Body Meeting (SGM) held on Saturday. AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey confirmed that the proposal will now be forwarded to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for consideration. Any name change will require approval from both the ministry and world football governing body FIFA before it can be formally adopted.

“The process began today. The proposal will be sent to the sports ministry, and if approved, it will be brought back to the general body before being forwarded to FIFA," Chaubey told PTI. He cited countries such as Türkiye and Czechia, whose football associations adopted names reflecting their revised national identities. The AIFF General Body also approved the commencement of the 2026-27 edition of the Indian Super League on September 4. The league is expected to run for seven months with a full home-and-away format involving all 14 participating clubs. While the annual football calendar was passed, the final competition schedule will be determined by the league’s managing committee. However, no final decision was taken regarding the future operating structure of the ISL.

The matter has been referred to the managing committee, which comprises representatives from clubs, the AIFF and commercial stakeholders. According to Chaubey, the clubs’ proposal requires further discussion before being placed before the AIFF Executive Committee for ratification. The developments come amid ongoing discussions over the commercial rights and governance of the ISL. Earlier this year, London-based Genius Sports emerged as the highest bidder for the league’s commercial rights. However, ISL clubs opposed the arrangement and instead proposed a club-led model for the next two years, offering to pay the AIFF ₹15.4 crore annually while allowing the federation to retain all regulatory responsibilities, including refereeing, integrity oversight, anti-doping measures, player registration and compliance with FIFA and Asian Football Confederation regulations.