Asian Paints U-18 Football Tournament to Begin from Bhadra 25 with Over 300 Schools Participating
The U-18 National Inter-School Football Competition will commence across all seven provinces from Bhadra 25, featuring participation from over 300 schools nationwide. The tournament is organized with the permission of the Nepal National Sports Council (Rakhap) and has an estimated budget of NPR 8.1 million, with total prize money exceeding NPR 1.6 million. From the provincial level selections, six teams each from the boys’ and girls’ categories will advance to the national finals to be held in Kathmandu on Ashwin 16. (September 9, Kathmandu)
The ‘Asian Paints Championship Inter-School U-18 Boys and Girls National Football Competition 2026’ is set to kick off on Bhadra 25. Matches will be held at various venues throughout all seven provinces. According to the organizers, the primary objective of the tournament is to provide a national platform for emerging football talents at the school level. Ahead of the competition, the organizers expressed deep sorrow over the devastating flood in the Bhote Koshi River on Bhadra 10, which caused significant loss of life and property in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts. They paid tribute to those who lost their lives and extended condolences to the affected families.
The provincial-level qualifying matches will simultaneously begin on Bhadra 25. Matches will be played in Biratnagar and Itahari in the Koshi Province; Lalbandi, Simra, and Rautahat in Madhesh Province; Chitwan and Kathmandu in Bagmati Province; Pokhara and Gorkha in Gandaki Province; Ghorahi, Nepalgunj, and Butwal in Lumbini Province; and Dhangadhi in Sudurpaschim Province. Since the number of schools in Karnali Province is limited, teams from there will participate in qualifiers at Dhangadhi, as confirmed by the organizers.
The total prize money for the tournament exceeds NPR 1.6 million. Winning teams in both boys’ and girls’ categories will receive NPR 100,000 each, while the runners-up will be awarded NPR 50,000 each. A special trophy has been crafted for the competition. The trophy tour has already been completed in Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi, with postponed events scheduled for Pokhara and Biratnagar on Ashwin 30 and 31 (October 17 and 18). Alongside the tournament, an environmental protection initiative titled ‘One Goal, One Tree’ will be launched. Organizers stated that for every goal scored throughout the competition, one tree will be planted.
The tournament is primarily sponsored by Asian Paints, with co-sponsors and partners including BVD, Ncell, Surya Jyoti Life Insurance, and Megha Investment Bank.