[[{“value”:”
In a landmark development, the English Premier League (EPL) is set to commence operations in Mumbai, its first-ever office in India.
The Premier League has a long-standing relationship with India, consistently engaging with its vast and passionate fanbase and supporting football communities across the nation. Since 2007, it has partnered with the British Council to implement its Premier Skills programme, aimed at developing grassroots football.
Over the past 18 years, this initiative has been rolled out across more than 18 Indian states, training over 7,300 coaches, referees, and educators, and positively impacting the lives of more than 124,000 young people.
At the elite level, the League has forged a strong collaboration with the Indian Super League (ISL) since its inception in 2014. This partnership has facilitated the exchange of expertise in several core areas, including governance, youth development, coaching, and referee training.
A key milestone in this relationship was the launch of the Next Gen Cup in 2019, an elite international youth tournament designed to nurture emerging talent. The sixth edition of this tournament is scheduled to take place in Mumbai in May 2025, where top ISL youth squads will compete against U19 teams from Premier League clubs, marking another significant step in youth football development.
The establishment of the Premier League’s India office aims to bolster its existing initiatives by enhancing collaboration with Indian football authorities and strengthening both grassroots and elite-level programmes.
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters expressed his enthusiasm, stating: “We and our clubs have a fantastic and knowledgeable fanbase in India, and we know football continues to grow in popularity. We are proud of our longstanding commitment to India, having worked to deliver community football programmes for 18 years and, more recently, our partnership with the Indian Super League. Opening this office marks a significant milestone for the Premier League. We are looking forward to the opportunities it will create in the region.”
This move follows the League’s global expansion strategy, with international offices already operating in Singapore (2019), New York (2023), and Beijing (2024), aimed at deepening fan engagement, supporting local football growth, and protecting content rights.
“}]]
