AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has completed a week-long visit to India as the league continues its push to establish a foothold in one of the world’s largest and fastest growing sports markets.
The visit included meetings with sports commissioners and business leaders before culminating in Ranchi, where the 2026 AFL India National Championships were held. The tournament brought together teams from across the country and offered a clear snapshot of how Australian football has developed in India since its early beginnings.
Australian football first took root in India in 2008 with around 150 players. Since then, about 20,000 people have played the game, with more than 10,000 currently registered participants. The competition structure has expanded alongside that growth, with 188 teams now operating across 11 states.
This year’s national championships featured around 250 male players and more than 45 women. The Jharkhand Crows claimed the men’s and junior boys’ titles, while the Bengal Tigers were crowned champions of the women’s tournament
This year’s national championships featured around 250 male players and more than 45 women. The Jharkhand Crows claimed the men’s and junior boys’ titles, while the Bengal Tigers were crowned champions of the women’s tournament. Teams competing included the Uttar Pradesh Hawks, Rajasthan Eagles, Maharashtra Giants, Telangana Saints, Kerala Bombers, Bihar Bulldogs, Bengal Tigers, Jharkhand Crows, Odisha Swans, Andhra Pradesh Magpies and the Tamil Nadu Kangaroos.
The AFL’s India strategy sits within a broader effort to expand the league’s international footprint while building a genuine connection to the game, both in India and among the Indian diaspora in Australia. That approach has been shaped by recent broadcast and cultural initiatives, including the first AFL match broadcast in Hindi during last year’s Cultural Heritage Series.
The league has confirmed that the Cultural Heritage Series will return in 2026, along with an alternate Hindi-language broadcast, as part of efforts to make the game more accessible to new audiences.
AFL India’s growth has been supported almost entirely at a community level. The program is run by volunteers, with more than 125 volunteer leaders involved nationwide, alongside 63 registered coaches and 43 umpires. The emphasis remains on participation and local ownership, rather than rapid commercial expansion.
As the AFL looks ahead, the focus is on turning steady grassroots growth into a lasting presence, using participation, cultural connection and community leadership as the foundation for the game’s future in India and its links back to Australia.
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