Football Mahakumbh 2026 Preparations Underway in Khariar: 69 Teams to Battle from September 20

Nuapada, August 21: Preparations are in full swing for the fourth edition of the ‘Football Mahakumbh 2026’ in Khariar, aimed at promoting sports and providing a platform for emerging football talent from rural areas. A key preparatory meeting was held at the Khariar Cultural Institution premises under the aegis of KCSA, with Khariar MLA Adhiraj Panigrahi presiding over the meeting. The tournament will be held from September 20 to October 6 at the Khariar Raja A.T. Playground. A total of 69 teams from every panchayat under Boden, Sinapali and Khariar blocks, along with teams from Khariar NAC, will participate in the tournament. As in previous years, only players belonging to their respective panchayats will be eligible to represent the teams. The meeting was organised following an invitation from KCSA president Santosh Patnaik, organising committee secretary Jitendra Nath Patnaik and treasurer Chhabi Sagar. Members and office-bearers of the organising committee attended the meeting, where an executive committee was formed and various responsibilities were assigned for the smooth conduct of the tournament. MLA Adhiraj Panigrahi will bear the expenses of the tournament and provide jerseys to the participating players. This year, flags matching the jersey colours of the respective panchayats will also be introduced, adding a colourful dimension to the sporting extravaganza. The organisers have decided that the referee’s decision will be final in all matches. In another major attraction, all matches will be streamed live on YouTube, enabling football enthusiasts to watch the tournament beyond the stadium. The Football Mahakumbh is expected to provide a valuable platform for talented players from rural areas to showcase their skills. Players who perform well may get opportunities to represent their teams at district and state-level competitions in the future. With the tournament being organised successfully every year, football lovers and sports enthusiasts have appreciated MLA Adhiraj Panigrahi’s initiative to promote football and encourage young sporting talent in the Khariar Assembly constituency.