Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday, June 7, 2026, congratulated the Indian Women's National Football Team on winning the SAFF Women's Championship 2026, calling their performance 'magical' and expressing immense national pride in the team's achievement.

Context

Fadnavis took to X (formerly Twitter) to extend his congratulations, writing: 'Heartiest congratulations to our incredible Indian Women's Football Team on bringing home the SAFF Women's Championship 2026! Watching you play with such fierce dedication and pure zeal has been nothing short of magical.' The post, tagged to @IndianFootball under the hashtags #SAFFWomensChampionship2026 and #IndianFootball, reflects the wider outpouring of official support for the team's regional triumph.

The SAFF Women's Championship is the premier women's football tournament for South Asian nations, organised by the South Asian Football Federation. India's women's side has long been the dominant force in the competition, having previously claimed the title in 2010, 2012, 2016, 2019, and 2022.

Policy Backdrop

India's sustained success in regional women's football is underpinned by a decade of increased government investment in women's sports. The Khelo India programme, launched in 2017, has channelled funding into grassroots infrastructure, athlete identification, and competitive exposure for women across disciplines including football.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF), which governs the national women's team, has worked alongside central and state sports bodies to expand the talent pipeline. Successive championship wins have helped raise the profile of women's football domestically and opened pathways to higher-level continental competition.

Stakeholders and Impact

The victory is a significant moment for the players, coaching staff, and millions of women's football fans across India. It reinforces India's position as the benchmark team in South Asian women's football and provides momentum for the sport at the grassroots level, encouraging young girls to pursue the game professionally.

Senior political figures congratulating the team publicly also signals continued state-level interest in championing women's sports achievements, which advocates argue is critical for sustained institutional support and sponsorship.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to India's performance in the AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers and the potential pathway toward the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. The SAFF title provides a confidence boost heading into those higher-stakes continental fixtures, where India will face stiffer competition from established Asian football nations.

With government backing, regional dominance, and growing public enthusiasm, the Indian Women's National Football Team appears well-positioned to push further into Asian and global competitions in the years ahead.