A football platform built around access, participation and meaningful next steps.
IPF connects people and organisations to clearer routes to play, compete, develop, work, collaborate and progress through football.
What IPF is
India Play Football is a football participation and opportunity platform. Its role is to connect players, families, teams, academies, institutions, football professionals and organisations through clearly defined football products and pathways.
The current U6–U20 Founding Competition is a flagship IPF product. It is not the age limit or full definition of India Play Football.
How the ecosystem fits together
Schools and colleges can create access. Academies and clubs can develop players. Competition gives players somewhere serious to test themselves. Adult players and football professionals need routes to stay connected to the game. Brands, football organisations and institutions need credible ways to build and measure football participation.
One platform, different eligibility
IPF itself does not have one universal age limit. Each competition, programme, opportunity and location has its own eligibility, capacity and launch status. That keeps the platform open without pretending every possible football product is already operating.
What IPF is not
- IPF is not a national governing, regulatory or certification body.
- IPF is not a daily coaching academy competing with existing academies.
- IPF does not guarantee professional contracts, scouting, jobs, trials or representation.
- Football Today is an external headline-discovery feed, not an IPF editorial newsroom.
The long-term football logic
Discover → Play → Develop → Compete → Progress. IPF can widen into adult/community football, girls' and women's competition, additional cities, football-professional networks and richer digital participant history as demand and operating proof justify each step.
Broad vision. Clear status.
IPF separates what people can use now from the network pathways being built for the future.
Current products
Founding Competition expressions of interest, Open Player, institution enquiries, partnerships and Football Today.
Future pathways
21+ player interest, football professionals and future-city demand can be captured without overpromising a live programme.
Platform expansion
New competition formats, cities and deeper services launch only when demand, partners and operating readiness support them.
Governance
Eligibility, safeguarding, privacy, medical readiness and competition integrity remain part of how IPF grows.
Clear ownership. Specialist roles around the football.
IPF is founder-led, with football, competition, safeguarding, medical and institutional responsibilities added through qualified specialists as roles are formally appointed.
Harshit Mhatre
Founder & League Commissioner
Harshit Mhatre leads India Play Football's overall vision, strategy, commercial partnerships, brand, communication and platform development. His professional background spans media, entertainment, communications, events and large-scale property execution, including leadership experience across organisations such as Zee and Star.
He is also Founder of Liongaze Media. Liongaze is referenced here as part of the founder's professional background; India Play Football operates with its own football identity, governance and sporting responsibilities.