Subroto Cup International Football Tournament Sub Junior Boys U-15
by Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society
Cash prize up to Rs 2,50,000
India's oldest inter-school football tournament, Sub Junior Boys (U-15) category, run by the Indian Air Force since 1960.
Mode
In-Person
Fee
₹2,000
Participation format
Team
Teams of 16
Duration
9 days of national finals
Eligibility
Open to boys' school teams in the Sub Junior Boys (U-15) category. A player must be a bonafide student on the school rolls from the start of the academic year, and may enter only one category per edition.
- Age range
- 12 to 14 years
- Gender
- Boys only
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Academic requirement
- Currently enrolled in a recognised school in India or in a participating foreign country, with a bonafide certificate from the school principal.
- Prerequisites
- Bonafide student on the school rolls from the start of the academic year
- Selection in the school's Sub Junior Boys (U-15) football team
- The school team must win through its sub-division, district, division and state rounds, or enter through the CBSE Pre-Subroto Cup for CBSE schools
- Entry form certified by the Principal and countersigned by the state Director of Education or DPI
- Age proof by school record and a valid Aadhaar card or passport
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Award
Cash prizes up to Rs 2,50,000
Cash prizes are awarded through the Sub Junior Boys (U-15) draw: Rs 2,50,000 to the winners, Rs 1,25,000 to the runners up, Rs 50,000 to each semi-finalist and Rs 25,000 to each quarter-finalist, plus Rs 50,000 for fair play and individual awards of Rs 40,000 for best player, Rs 25,000 for best goalkeeper, Rs 25,000 for best coach and Rs 40,000 for best school.
Prizes
Trophy, medals & cash
The Sub Junior Boys (U-15) champions receive the Subroto Cup trophy and medals alongside the cash prizes, with individual awards for best player, best goalkeeper, best coach and best school.
Certificate
Participation & winner certificates
Players receive participation certificates; winners and runners-up receive special recognition certificates issued under the authority of the Indian Air Force.
Recognized by
Recognition
National school football honours
Skills your child builds
Key dates
Last edition
- Competition
- 1 Sept 2026 to 9 Sept 2026
How to apply
- 1CBSE-affiliated schools register team(s) on the official Subroto Cup portal under the CBSE institution category.
- 2Non-CBSE schools enter through their state football association or state-level Subroto Cup qualifier round.
- 3Pay the team registration fee of two thousand rupees online to the Subroto Sports Control Board.
- 4Submit team list with player age proofs and bonafide certificates to the organising committee.
Rules and guidelines
- Only bonafide students of the registered school may play
- Players must meet the date-of-birth cut-off published for the category each edition
- A squad is sixteen players, fourteen outfield and two goalkeepers, plus one coach and one manager
- A player may enter only one Subroto Cup category in an edition
- Matches follow the FIFA Laws of the Game, and players suspected of being overage take a skeletal maturity test
Fees and financial support
Fee details
Team registration fee of two thousand rupees applies to schools entering through the CBSE Pre-Subroto Cup route, payable online to Subroto Sports Control Board. Non-CBSE schools may have separate qualifier-round fees set by their state association.
About this opportunity
The Subroto Cup International Football Tournament is the oldest national inter-school football competition in India, conducted every year since 1960 by the Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society under the Air Force Sports Control Board. This document covers the Sub Junior Boys (U-15) category.
The Subroto Cup runs three categories, Sub Junior Boys U-15, Junior Girls U-17 and Junior Boys U-17, and each is a separate tournament with its own dates, its own host city and its own entry. This is the only Subroto Cup category held outside Delhi: since the tournament widened its reach, the Sub Junior Boys have played in Bengaluru while both U-17 categories play in the National Capital Region.
Entry is by school team only, and only one team per state or unit reaches the national finals. A school wins its way up through sub-division, district, division and state rounds; CBSE-affiliated schools may instead come through the CBSE Pre-Subroto Cup feeder tournament. The team must be certified by the Director of Education or DPI of its state, and every player must be a bonafide student on the school rolls from the start of the academic year.
A squad is limited to sixteen players, fourteen outfield players and two goalkeepers, with one coach and one manager. A player may enter only one category in an edition. League matches are two halves of 30 minutes with a 10 minute break. Knockout matches are the same, and if the scores are level go to extra time of two 7 minute halves with a 1 minute break, then kicks from the penalty mark. Champion schools take the Subroto Cup trophy, medals and cash prizes, and the tournament carries recognition from the Indian Air Force and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Rounds and format
A school reaches the national finals through four qualifying tiers: sub-division, district, division and state. CBSE-affiliated schools may instead qualify through the CBSE Pre-Subroto Cup. At the Sub Junior Boys (U-15) finals the teams are drawn into pools for league matches and the pool winners go into a knockout to the final. League matches are two halves of 30 minutes with a 10 minute break. Knockout matches are the same, and if the scores are level go to extra time of two 7 minute halves with a 1 minute break, then kicks from the penalty mark.
How entries are judged
Matches are decided on goals scored under the FIFA Laws of the Game as applied by the All India Football Federation. Pool matches are won on the scoreline, with pool placings deciding who advances. A level knockout match goes to extra time and then to kicks from the penalty mark. There is no subjective judging.
Selection process
Entry is by school team only, and only one team per state or unit reaches the national finals. A school wins its way up through sub-division, district, division and state rounds; CBSE-affiliated schools may instead come through the CBSE Pre-Subroto Cup feeder tournament. The team must be certified by the Director of Education or DPI of its state, and every player must be a bonafide student on the school rolls from the start of the academic year. Within the Sub Junior Boys (U-15) finals, teams advance on pool results and then on knockout results, and the cash prizes and trophy follow the final placings.
Frequently asked questions
How can students effectively manage the pressure of a national-level football tournament?
Participants can benefit from mental conditioning exercises, focusing on teamwork, and maintaining a positive outlook. Regular practice and simulated match scenarios also help build confidence and reduce anxiety.
What are the key factors that contribute to a team's success in the Subroto Cup?
Success often hinges on strong team cohesion, effective tactical play, consistent physical conditioning, and the ability to adapt to different opponents and match situations. Discipline and sportsmanship are also crucial.
How do scouts and selectors identify talent during the tournament?
Scouts look for players who demonstrate exceptional technical skills, tactical intelligence, physical prowess, and leadership qualities. Performance consistency across multiple matches and under pressure is highly valued.
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