Click to play videoNew Delhi: At the Subroto Cup 16 teams have come through a qualifying round to earn the right to be in New Delhi for the next three weeks.
The young boys will sweat it out for the most coveted schools' football trophy in India.
"I don't think there is any other tournament of this kind in the entire world where nearly 20,000 schools take part. One school from each state comes here," Air Marshal JN Burma, AVSM, VSM Air Officer-in-charge Administration and Vice Chairman Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society, said.
In its 49th year, the tournament has been the breeding ground for many Indian stars past and present.
Shyam Thapa and Bhaichung Bhutia played on these grounds and even now the teams hope to qualify and represent their state in hope for future glory.
Mizoram's coach R Lalmuankima said, "We bring the kids here. So for them it is very beneficial for their future like getting into some professional club or joining some academy."
And the tournament has a foreign flavour too this year Swiss club FC Kushnat, a team from Switzerland and they can't wait to get kicking.
"Well, I want to show how we can play football also in Switzerland," a young Swiss player said while another added, "India is very good, good players and good teams."
"I love football specially the weather is really hot and so lots of fun. We sweat a lot. But I love India. It's pretty cool," one of their teammates said.
From the 50 schools that participated in the inaugural tournament back in 1960 to the 20,000 that competed for a spot in the finals this year, the Subroto Cup has truly come a very long way. Who said there's no place for football in India?
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