Defending champions Delhi Public School, RK Puram, and Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Faridabad, launched their title defences with dominant 5-0 victories on 7 July 2026 as the fourth edition of the Oriental Cup kicked off at Dr. Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi. The two-week tournament, running until 16 July, is expected to feature more than 1,500 student-athletes from over 48 teams across Delhi-NCR.

Opening Day Highlights

In the Boys' category, DPS RK Puram dismantled Vasant Valley School 5-0. After a goalless first half, Abhav Bhardwaj broke the deadlock and completed a hat-trick within eight minutes. Aditya Lal and Ridit Dang added one goal apiece to round off the win. In the Girls' category, defending champions Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Faridabad, were equally clinical against Navy Children School, with Somya netting four goals and Ishu adding the fifth in a commanding 5-0 triumph.

Other Match Day 1 Results

The opening day featured seven school fixtures and an NGO exhibition match. Vasant Valley School upset DPS RK Puram 3-0 in the Girls' category, with Naavya Gogoi, Unjila Khan, and Tanvie Gogoi on the scoresheet. Navy Children School edged Venkateshwar International School 3-1 in the Boys' draw, with Vansh Raj Rana scoring twice. Sanskriti School beat Modern School 1-0 — Mannan Machhan's second-minute strike the only goal — while Modern School reversed the result in the Girls' fixture, winning 4-0 with Dhwani Bidada completing a second-half hat-trick. Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj, closed the school schedule with a 3-0 win over Dev Samaj Modern School, courtesy of a hat-trick from Kanav Sharma. In the NGO exhibition match, STRIVE defeated Mera India Mera Adhikaar (MIMA) 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation.

Opening Ceremony and Chief Guest

Indian footballer Rohit Kumar attended as Chief Guest and interacted with the young participants. Fareed Bakshi, Founder of the Oriental Cup, and Arvinder Singh, Chief Operating Officer, were also present at the ceremony. Kumar said: 'It is wonderful to see a tournament like the Oriental Cup giving young footballers a platform to showcase their talent and passion for the game. Talent alone is not enough — dedication, love for the sport, and opportunities like the Oriental Cup are what help shape the next generation of footballers.'

Prize Pool and Scholarship Programme

The fourth edition carries a significantly expanded prize pool compared to previous years and introduces a ₹2.5 lakh scholarship programme for 10 deserving student-athletes. The tournament is backed by Oriental Structural Engineers Pvt. Ltd. as title sponsor, with Nivia Sports as Football Partner, Ocean Beverages as Hydration Partner, and Central Park Resorts as Associate Partner. With the group stage now underway, attention turns to how the draws develop before the knockout rounds later in the week.