Mizoram NCC girls reach 65th Subroto Cup final, face Jharkhand on Aug 27
Synopsis
A school football team from Aizawl, Mizoram has punched through to the final of the 65th Subroto Cup — one of India's oldest and largest school football tournaments — defeating Chhattisgarh 2-1 in the semis. The North East's growing football identity is on full display as the NCC girls prepare to face Jharkhand on 27 August 2026.
Key Takeaways
The NCC School Under-17 Girls Football Team from Aizawl, Mizoram has reached the final of the 65th Subroto Cup (Junior Girls category).
They defeated Chhattisgarh 2-1 in the semi-final and will face Jharkhand in the final on 27 August 2026 .
The 65th edition features 106 teams across categories, with matches in Delhi NCR and Bengaluru .
The Girls Under-17 category was introduced in 2012 ; nearly 34,000 school teams compete at the state level to qualify.
The Army's Eastern Command publicly congratulated the Aizawl team on social media ahead of the final.
The NCC School Under-17 Girls Football Team from Aizawl, Mizoram — representing the Shillong-based NCC Directorate of North Eastern Region — has advanced to the final of the 65th Subroto Cup (Junior Girls category). The team edged out Chhattisgarh 2-1 in the semi-final and will meet Jharkhand in the title clash on Thursday, 27 August 2026.
Road to the Final
The Aizawl side's 2-1 victory over Chhattisgarh in the semi-final was a hard-fought result that underlined the growing strength of football in India's North East. The team's journey to the final has drawn widespread attention, with the Army's Eastern Command congratulating the players on social media: 'Into the Final! Eastern Command congratulates the young players on their outstanding performance and wishes them the very best for the Final. Go for glory!'
About the Subroto Cup
The Subroto Cup is one of India's most storied school football tournaments, named after Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee, the first Indian Chief of Air Staff. Conceived by Mukerjee — a passionate football enthusiast — in 1958, the tournament's inaugural edition in 1960 drew roughly 50 school teams, all from Delhi. The Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society was established following his untimely passing in Tokyo.
The 65th edition has assembled 106 teams across categories, with matches held across Delhi NCR and Bengaluru. Today, close to 34,000 school teams from across India compete at the state level before qualifying for the national tournament.
Evolution of the Tournament
For its first three-and-a-half decades, the Subroto Cup featured only a Boys Under-17 category. A Boys Under-14 category was introduced in 1998, and the Girls Under-17 category — in which the Mizoram NCC side now competes — was added in 2012 to broaden the sport's reach. NCC teams are also eligible to participate alongside state representatives.
The competition follows a league-cum-knockout format under FIFA laws as adopted by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Preliminary rounds are held at sub-division, district, and division levels, culminating in state finals whose winners advance to the national stage.
International Footprint
Over the decades, the Subroto Cup has attracted teams from Brazil, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Switzerland, Sweden, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Israel, Bhutan, the UAE, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan, lending the tournament genuine international stature. The Mizoram NCC team's run to the final adds a fresh chapter to this legacy, spotlighting the North East's increasingly prominent role in Indian football.
All eyes will be on the final on 27 August 2026, as the Aizawl girls bid to bring the title home for the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which team from Mizoram has reached the Subroto Cup 2026 final?
The NCC School Under-17 Girls Football Team from Aizawl, Mizoram, representing the NCC Directorate of North Eastern Region, has reached the final of the 65th Subroto Cup in the Junior Girls category.
Who will Mizoram NCC face in the Subroto Cup final?
The Mizoram NCC Under-17 girls will face Jharkhand in the final, scheduled for Thursday, 27 August 2026.
What is the Subroto Cup and when did it start?
The Subroto Cup is one of India's oldest and largest school football tournaments, named after Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee, the first Indian Chief of Air Staff. It began in 1960 and now draws nearly 34,000 school teams competing at the state level to qualify for the national stage.
When was the Girls Under-17 category added to the Subroto Cup?
The Girls Under-17 category was introduced in 2012 to promote women's football at the school level. The Boys Under-14 category had been added earlier in 1998; the original tournament ran only a Boys Under-17 category from 1960.
How many teams are competing in the 65th Subroto Cup?
The 65th edition of the Subroto Cup features 106 teams across categories, with matches being held in Delhi NCR and Bengaluru.
