List of academies who secured AIFF Accreditation for 2025-26 season

Aasif is covering Indian football and also serving as a Khel Now correspondent for ISL club Chennaiyin FC.

Published at :September 12, 2025 at 11:29 AM

Modified at :September 13, 2025 at 9:30 PM

List of academies who secured AIFF Accreditation for 2025-26 season

Academies of Bengaluru FC & Punjab FC received five-star accreditation by AIFF.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced the results of its 2025 Academy Accreditation Programme, a key step in improving player pathways and raising the standards of football academies across India. The initiative has become central to shaping a more professional and structured youth development system.

New measures introduced by AIFF in 2025 placed a greater focus on gender equality and grassroots growth. Academies with girls’ teams and women’s staff received recognition, while performance in youth leagues, contributions to national squads, and the extended Blue Cubs League also influenced the final ratings.

This year, 142 academies applied for evaluation, with only seven earning the top four- and five-star ratings. The process goes beyond footballing results, rewarding academies for inclusivity, organisation, and long-term player development.

List of AIFF Accredited academies 2025-25

Five-star Accreditation

Bengaluru FC
Reliance Foundation Young Champs
Punjab FC

Four-Star Accreditation

Alchemy International FA
FC Madras
Minerva Academy FC
Jamshedpur FC

Two-Star Accreditation

A total of 72 academies received a two-star accreditation by the AIFF for the 2025-26 season. Quite a few academies of ISL/I-League clubs are a part of this shortlist.

Here are the academies from this list:

SESA Football Academy
Mumbai Soccer Prodigies
Conscient Football
PUNE-UKM Kothrud FC
Muthoot Football Academy
Snigmay Pune Football Club
BIDHANNAGAR MUNICIPAL SPORTS ACADEMY
SKM SPORTS FOUNDATION (KALNA)
Bravo Football
Adamas United Sports Academy
CLASSIC FOOTBALL ACADEMY
Conscient Football Mumbai
Hungry Hearts Soccer School
BENGAL FOOTBALL ACADEMY
FC Marina Academy, Chennai
Murugappa Youth Football Academy
Thane City FC
AC MILAN ACADEMY KERALA
Dempo Sports Club
PEHLUM LAMHIL LAWM
Thadam FC
FC Goa
SETHU, MADURAI
Numaligarh Refinery Limited Football Academy
North East United FC
Raman Sports Academy
KFTC Football Academy Kozhikode
Kickstart FC Karnataka
Mumbai – Football School of India
BBFS Shillong
Snipers Football Club
United Sports Club
REGULAR FOOTBALL COACHING CENTER
East Bengal FC
Artz N India Football Club, Dindigul
Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Namdhari Sports Academy
Aazura Football Academy
Brothers Sports Association
Vels Football Club
RKM FOOTBALL ACADEMY
The Sports School
ASUFII FA
Inter Kashi
FC Tamilions
Sportiqo Football Academy
Bangalore City FC
Belgaum United Football Academy
Gokulam Kerala FC
Football Plus Professional Soccer Academy
ELITE FA
The Soccer Academy
FC Madurai
Sirukalathur Galatipet Football Club
Rising Pune F.C.
Reeds FC
4 For All Football Academy
Panihati Fashion Zone Football Academy
Pune Pioneers F.C.
Shillong Lajong FC
TYDA
Bhawanipore FC
Dream Big Soccer School India, Karur
SP FOOTBALL ACADEMY
Great Goals
Savvy Swaraaj FC, Ahmedabad
TLT SPORTS ACADEMY
Conscient Football Bangalore
Kerala Blasters Football Club
NOVA Football Club
Sportto Soccer Club
Real Kashmir FC

One Star Accreditation

A total of 32 academies have been given a one-star accreditation for the 2025-26 season. None of the ISL/I-League clubs has a one-star accreditation for the upcoming year.

Here are the academies from this list:

POLOI FOOTBALL CLUB
Sanjeevan Sports Academy
Rudra FC
A & N Soccer School
SAIL FOOTBALL ACADEMY, BOKARO, JHARKHAND
India Rush Soccer Club
Little Star Academy
Yazhi Football Club
Northern United Football Club
Kodagu FC
Infocus Sports Academy
SP ONE FOUNDATION
Sporthood FC
SANG-GAI HEROES
New Football Club Kerala
LUCKNOW FALCONS FOOTBALL CLUB
Raman Vijayan Soccer School
SADAR HILLS FA
Rebels FC
Kahaani Football Club
SOUTH DUMDUM MUNICIPAL SPORTS ACADEMY
STEMFIELD FOOTBALL CLUB JABALPUR
Oscar Foundation- Mumbai
Puzhal Football Coaching Association
Alpha Sports Academy
Mahogany FC
CHIKIM FA
LAMKA FA
MUVANLAI ATHLETICS
City FC Pune
Athlead Football Club
Nashik Juniors Football Club – Nashik

Check the full list of academies

New youth competition on the horizon

Along with the accreditation results, the AIFF also revealed a new format for its Youth Leagues aimed at building a more inclusive and competitive pathway. Under this structure, ISL clubs, I-League clubs, state-nominated academies, and those with four- and five-star ratings will go straight into the group stage, while the rest will battle it out in qualifying rounds.

The revamped league will feature 80 teams in the main stage, split into 10 regional groups of eight. Each side will be guaranteed at least 14 matches, giving young players more consistent game time and better development opportunities. The remaining spots in the groups will be filled by academies advancing from the qualifiers, ensuring a wider pool of teams gets a chance to compete.

What is the AIFF Academy Accreditation Programme?

The AIFF Academy Accreditation Programme is an evaluation system that assesses football academies across India on infrastructure, inclusivity, organisation, and long-term player development.

Which academies received five-star accreditation for 2025-26 by AIFF?

Bengaluru FC, Punjab FC, and Reliance Foundation Young Champs secured five-star accreditation from the AIFF.

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Aasif Ali

Aasif, a football fan turned writer, has been writing about the sport since 2020. Based in Chennai, it is no surprise that love for Chennaiyin FC runs in his blood. Apart from Indian football, Aasif has also written and edited articles extensively about European football.