Bharat Northeast Football Trophy
BNFT football players ready for the Bharat Northeast Football Trophy

Bharat Northeast Football Trophy

A competitive stage for Northeast football talent.

Bharat Northeast Football Trophy (BNFT) is an 11-a-side football tournament in Delhi, created to provide talented footballers from Northeast India with the opportunity to compete in a professionally organised environment and demonstrate their ability on a wider stage.

The tournament will bring emerging Northeast players into the view of professional and semi-professional football clubs, coaches, scouts and football institutions. Through competitive matches, player profiles, recorded footage and performance highlights, BNFT aims to ensure that strong performances are seen, documented and remembered beyond the tournament.

BNFT is a joint initiative involving United Bharat F.C., 1Eleven Sports Advisory and Northeast student associations. Together, they are building a competition that connects Northeast football talent with greater visibility, recognition and future opportunities.

Read more about BNFT
BNFT footballers preparing for competitive match play
BNFT volunteers united by BNFT at a football venue

The BNFT Ecosystem

Play. Be seen. Build experience.

BNFT is being designed to make participation count both on and off the pitch. It creates a competitive stage for players while also opening opportunities for students, professionals and volunteers who want to gain practical experience within football and tournament operations.

  • 01

    Play

    Represent your community and compete in an organised 11-a-side tournament against strong and experienced opposition.

  • 02

    Be seen

    Perform before professional and semi-professional clubs, coaches and scouts, supported by player profiles, recorded matches and performance highlights.

  • 03

    Build experience

    Contribute through team management, match operations, media, photography, communications, logistics, medical support, player welfare and tournament administration.

Explore community partners

One tournament. Different ways to move forward.

Roadmap

Getting to kick-off.

  1. 01

    Community alignment

    Student associations and community partners shape the inaugural edition.

  2. 02

    Tournament set-up

    Recognition and affiliation, venue, competition format and delivery partners are finalised.

  3. 03

    Team registration

    Clubs and community teams register, followed by squad and fixture confirmation.

  4. 1 October 2026 · Tentative

    BNFT kicks off in Delhi

    Proposed competition window: 1–11 October 2026.