Staff Reporter 

ITANAGAR, Jan 31: The Arunachal Pradesh Football Association (APFA) has announced that Arunachal Pradesh will host the Tri-Nation U-23 International Football Championship 2026, featuring India, Bhutan and Tajikistan, from March 25 to 31, at the Golden Jubilee Outdoor Stadium, Yupia. The information was shared by Kipa Ajay, Treasurer of the All India Football Association (AIFF).
Speaking to the media at a press conference, Ajay further added that all matches will be played in the evening at 7:00 PM IST  to ensure maximum spectator engagement and a vibrant match day atmosphere. The tournament will also be telecast live on online platforms, allowing football fans across the region and beyond to follow the international action.
The championship is expected to provide valuable international exposure to young players and further strengthen sporting ties among the participating nations, while also highlighting APFA’s growing capability to host high-standard international football events. As per the match schedule, Bhutan will take on Tajikistan on March 25, India will face Bhutan on March 28, and the final match between India and Tajikistan will be played on March 31.
Ticketing arrangements will follow the same procedure as previous APFA tournaments, with both online and offline options available. This will include online slot allotment applications as well as box office ticket sales near the stadium.
Kipa Ajay, Treasurer  AIFF who is also the Secretary of APFA,  added that in a major step towards player welfare, APFA will introduce the Football Players’ Welfare Fund (FPWF) aimed at supporting the health and well-being of former and senior football players of Arunachal Pradesh. The fund will be sustained through donations, sponsorships and official card renewals, and will be maintained through a separate bank account to ensure transparency. A dedicated assessment board comprising APFA vice presidents, the treasurer and the vice chairman of the competition committee will oversee the evaluation and finalisation of financial assistance.
Grants under the welfare fund will be available to players who have represented the state a minimum of three times in Senior National Football Championships in both men’s and women’s categories. Special provisions will also be made for international players and members of the first Arunachal Pradesh state team that participated in the Santosh Trophy in 1993.
APFA will also introduce a formal accreditation card system for players, coaches and referees at the Golden Jubilee Outdoor Stadium, Yupia. These accreditation cards will serve as official entry passes during APFA-organised competitions, with the annual registration fee collected through the system being directly credited to the Football Players’ Welfare Fund. In addition, annual and monthly membership cards will be made available for the general public, enabling access to the stadium track for fitness, health and recreational activities.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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