Paro FC Football Academy has become the first club or national football association in South Asia to receive a Two-Star rating under the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Elite Youth Scheme, marking a historic achievement for Bhutanese football. The recognition places the academy among a select group of institutions across Asia that meet the AFC’s high standards for youth development.
The AFC Elite Youth Scheme evaluates academies across 20 key areas, including coaching quality, infrastructure, sports science, player welfare, education, safeguarding, and talent identification. Paro FC’s Two-Star rating confirms that its youth development system meets international benchmarks by combining football training with education, psychological support, and player welfare.
The academy was assessed through an on-site inspection led by Takeshi Ono, Deputy Technical Director of the Japan Football Association and the AFC, alongside Deepak John Nayak, FIFA Talent Development Scheme Project Manager at the All India Football Federation. The evaluation reviewed coaching programmes, player development pathways, safeguarding measures, and youth talent identification systems.
Paro FC officials described the recognition as the result of years of sustained investment and a commitment to building a world-class football development model in Bhutan. The club now aims to further strengthen its infrastructure and youth programmes as it works toward achieving the AFC’s highest Three-Star rating, a milestone that would make it the first club in South Asia to reach that level.
