G.D. Goenka School, Dwarka, and Bharti Public School were crowned champions of the Oriental Cup 2026 on 17 July 2026 at the Dr Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi, with both schools lifting maiden titles in the boys' and girls' categories respectively. The fourth edition of the tournament concluded with two high-intensity finals that delivered attacking football and a historic first — a dedicated scholarship programme for young athletes.

Boys' Final: G.D. Goenka Edge Past Step by Step School

The boys' final between G.D. Goenka School, Dwarka, and Step by Step School, Noida, was a breathless affair from the opening whistle. Neil Bhagat put G.D. Goenka ahead in the 6th minute with a stunning long-range effort from inside his own half that caught the goalkeeper completely off guard. Vansh Gulati levelled for Step by Step School just three minutes later in the 9th minute, making it 1-1. Kaartikya Kashyap Chugh restored G.D. Goenka's advantage in the 11th minute, and the team defended resolutely in the second half to seal a 2-1 victory and claim their first Oriental Cup boys' title.

Girls' Final: Bharti Public School Secure 1-0 Win Over Modern School

The girls' Under-19 final between Bharti Public School and Modern School was a more measured contest. Both sides were cautious in the first half, which ended goalless. Bharti Public School came out with greater intent after the break, and Nitika broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with a clinical finish. That solitary goal proved decisive as Bharti Public School held on for a 1-0 victory to lift their maiden Oriental Cup girls' title.

Prize Money, Top Scorers and Scholarship Programme

The winners in both categories received ₹1,50,000 each, while runners-up took home ₹75,000. Winning coaches were awarded ₹50,000 and runner-up coaches ₹25,000 in each category. Kaartikya Kashyap Chugh (G.D. Goenka School, Dwarka) and Dhwani Bidada (Modern School) were named top scorers in the boys' and girls' categories respectively, each receiving a pair of football boots.

In a landmark addition to the tournament, a ₹2.5 lakh scholarship fund was introduced for the first time, benefiting 10 student-athletes — five from each category. The inaugural scholarship recipients in the boys' category are Kaartikya Kashyap Chugh (G.D. Goenka School, Dwarka), Ishan Pandey (Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj), Arnab Kashyap (The Air Force School, Subroto Park), Riddhiman Singh (Step by Step School, Noida), and Abhav Bhardwaj (Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram). In the girls' category, the recipients are Tanvie Gogoi (Vasant Valley School), Amina Abdali (Sanskriti School), Neetika Negi (Bharti Public School), Dhwani Bidada (Modern School), and Somya (Government Girls Senior Secondary School).

What the Chief Guest and Organisers Said

Sardar Singh, former captain of the Indian Men's Hockey Team and current coach, attended as Chief Guest and praised the standard of play. 'The future of Indian sport lies at the grassroots. If young players develop strong fundamentals at the sub-junior and youth levels, they will be better equipped to meet the demands of modern sport and represent the country at the highest level,' he said. He added that the talent and intensity on display showed 'India has no shortage of talent.'

Tournament founder Fareed Bakshi expressed satisfaction at the successful staging of the fourth edition. 'I am delighted that the fourth edition of the Oriental Cup has concluded successfully... We now look forward to returning next year with an even bigger and better edition of the Oriental Cup,' he said.

What This Means for School Football

The Oriental Cup has steadily grown in stature since its inception, and the 2026 edition marks a clear step up — a more than doubled prize pool and the first-ever scholarship programme signal a long-term commitment to nurturing school-level football talent in India. Notably, the tournament's scholarship initiative places it among a small group of school sports events in India that formally recognise athletic potential alongside academic merit. With the fifth edition already anticipated, the Oriental Cup is positioning itself as a credible pipeline for grassroots football development in the national capital region.