Challenged by wars, Subroto Cup turns spotlight inwards

The Subroto Cup, an inter-school football tournament, has faced challenges in maintaining its international appeal amidst the backdrop of global wars and geopolitical tensions. Despite featuring renowned players like Pelé and Rivaldo, the tournament now finds itself relying on just two foreign teams from Sri Lanka to participate in the 2026 edition.

Air Marshal S Sivakumar VSM, the event's organizer, attributes the limited international participation to the ongoing conflicts and wars worldwide. However, the organizers have adapted their strategy to focus on nurturing Indian talent. Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in 2023, the top performers from each edition are assembled as the 'Subroto XI' and given the opportunity to compete in AIFF youth competitions.

This approach has led to several young Subroto Cup players being selected for various clubs and even representing India at the U-20 level, with one notable player being Lemmet Tangvah from Manipur.