Find out what's new in Subroto Cup 2023

Scholarships will be given to 25 players across the three categories the tournament is played in.

The upcoming 62nd edition of the esteemed Subroto Cup is scheduled to commence on the 19th of September 2023. This highly anticipated tournament will witness the participation of teams in three distinct categories, namely: Junior Girls (U-17) with a total of 33 teams, Sub-Junior Boys (U-14) with 37 teams, and Junior Boys (U-17) with an impressive 39 teams.

The Subroto Cup is an esteemed youth football tournament that takes place in India. It stands as one of the most prominent and widely-followed football competitions for school-level players within the country. Named after Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee, one of the founding figures of the Indian Air Force, the tournament bears his legacy and reflects his commitment to fostering sports among young individuals.

Inaugurated in 1960, this event has evolved into an annual fixture. Initially orchestrated by the Indian Air Force, its scope has expanded to encompass teams representing various schools and academies from both domestic and international domains.

New host city

In addition to Delhi and Gurugram, this time Subroto Cup will also be hosted in the capital of Karnataka state, the city of Bengaluru. Announcing this, Air Marshal R.K. Anand VSM, Air Officer-in-Charge Administration & Vice Chairman SMSES, said, “The 62nd Subroto Cup will indeed be historic given that it will be played in Bengaluru, in the South of India, for the very first time. It has been our longstanding desire to spread the reach of this iconic tournament to more corners of the country and the hosting of the main Sub Junior Boys tournament in Bengaluru this year, is a first step in that direction."

Collaboration with AIFF

In a historic move, the tournament will be organized under the aegis of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), marking a significant milestone in the event's journey. The selection committee will have the privilege of handpicking the Subroto-11 team, who will subsequently be granted a direct entry into the esteemed AIFF Youth League.

Other than this, in conjunction with the AIFF, age determination will be carried out using the TW3 method. All players participating in the tournament will be duly registered under the AIFF's Centralized Registration System (CRS). Additionally, an educational seminar conducted by specialists from the AIFF will be provided to all accompanying coaches.

Moreover, the AIFF will extend its support by assisting in talent scouting through teams participating in the ISL (Indian Super League), I-League, and IWL (Indian Women's League) Club.

Participation of other countries and presence of legendary football players

The tournament has witnessed the participation of teams exclusively from Nepal and Bangladesh thus far. In response to this, Chief Guest Air Marshal R.K. Anand articulated that “efforts are underway to expand the scope of this esteemed competition and invite teams from other nations to partake in it.”

And about the participation of renowned football players in the tournament, the Air Marshal emphasized that "In the previous edition, we had extended an invitation to Baichung Bhutia. Unfortunately, due to prior engagements, he was unable to attend the tournament. Moving forward, we are actively exploring opportunities to involve athletes from various sporting disciplines, with the aim of inspiring and motivating young participants."

Rise in popularity of the tournament

The tournament has experienced a notable surge in popularity over the years, resulting in an increased involvement of numerous sponsors and a collaboration with the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

This season, the Subroto Cup will proudly feature two Platinum sponsors, while Khel Now has obtained the rights of Digital Media Partner for the upcoming edition, further expanding the roster of esteemed partners.

"We are delighted to witness a significant influx of sponsorships. It is truly encouraging to observe the eagerness to foster football development right from the grassroots level.", stated by R.K. Anand.

Scholarship for the players

Scholarships will be given to 25 players in all the three categories.

Sub Junior Boys – Rs 15,000/- for each player

Junior Girls – Rs 25,000/- to each player

Junior Boys – Rs 25,000/-  to each player.

"Other than this, players get jobs and recognition on the basis of their participation in Subroto Cup, whose verifications are done by us", stated by Group Captain Yashwant Singh Panghal, who is is also the honorary secretary general of Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society.

Watch Live

The 62nd Subroto Cup will be telecast LIVE on the SportsCast India YouTube channel. One can also see the highlights on the Prasar Bharti & AIFF YouTube channels.