The U-17 tournament to take place from April 8 to April 15
● 16 teams (8 boys, 8 girls) from across India to compete
● Norwich City FC Youth Academy’s participation will provide international level exposure and conduct knowledge workshops for the coaches
● Girls’ tournament features state teams officially nominated by AIFF
Goa, April 02, 2025: The highly anticipated National Finals of the Dream Sports Championship Football 2025 — an initiative of the Dream Sports Foundation (DSF) — will kick off in Goa on April 8. In a major development, renowned English football team Norwich City FC’s Youth Team will be participating in the tournament’s second edition.
The Championship will bring together eight boys’ and eight girls’ teams to compete in an intense competition. In an exciting first, the girls’ tournament will feature state teams nominated by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) from Assam, Jharkhand, Kerala, Rajasthan, Goa, Odisha, Karnataka, and Delhi. Group stage matches will take place at the SAG Benaulim Football Ground and Utorda Sports Complex, with the grand finale set for Raia Football Ground on April 15, where football legends Bhaichung Bhutia and Subrata Paul will grace the occasion. All the matches will be streamed live on Fancode.
“This tournament marks a significant milestone in our commitment to developing grassroots football in India,” said Bhavit Sheth, COO and Co-founder of Dream Sports. “Inviting an international team to compete with top domestic clubs offers young athletes global exposure. This year, with the inclusion of a girls’ category, we hope to make football an inclusive sport. We are grateful to the AIFF for their continued support, which contributes to our vision to Make Sports Better.”
During the tournament, the DSF will also conduct knowledge exchange workshops under the Dream Again initiative led by the Norwich City coaches for the support staff of all the participating teams. The workshops will include topics like leadership in coaching, physical & medical awareness, and football staff development.
Following intense regional rounds, seven Indian youth teams secured their places in the National Finals. These teams are Punjab FC (Delhi), Reliance Foundation Young Champs (Mumbai), Chennaiyin FC (Bengaluru), Mohun Bagan Super Giant (Kolkata), Football 4 Change (Guwahati), SESA FA, and Dempo Sports Club (Goa). Meanwhile, the tournament will follow a group stage format, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the final of the U-17 football tournament across the boys and girls categories.
The participation of Norwich City FC adds an international presence to the tournament, complementing the regional champions from across India. The two-time winners of the FA Cup are known for producing top-level talent like Ben Godfrey (Everton FC, Ipswich Town) and James Maddison (Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur), who have performed at the highest level of English football – the English Premier League.
Local football enthusiasts and AIFF scouts are expected to closely watch the tournament, representing a significant stepping stone for talented young footballers aiming to build professional careers.
About Dream Sports Foundation:
Dream Sports Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Dream Sports, India’s leading sports technology company with brands like Dream11, FanCode, and DreamSetGo. At the heart of DSF’s programs is a powerful vision: to make sports better by bridging gaps in the sports ecosystem. The Foundation focuses on identifying and nurturing youth talent through data-driven programs, organising high-quality national-level competitions like the ‘Dream Sports Championship’, and providing education and upskilling opportunities for sports professionals—be it coaches, P.E. teachers, referees, or other sports professionals who contribute to the community. DSF supported athletes have represented India in major sports events like the Olympic Games, World Championships, Commonwealth & Asian Games, winning over 200 National and 107 international level medals. DSF also provides world-class youth coaching through its partner academies with the legends of Indian Sports like Mary Kom, Karnam Malleswari, Bhaichung Bhutia & Dilip Vengsarkar.
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