The Development Cup Football Tournament, Boys Under-15 2026, organised by the Department of Sports under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, officially began at the Govt College of Physical Education ground in Mohammadpur, the ministry said. State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque inaugurated the three-day event as the chief guest, while the ceremony was chaired by Additional Secretary (Sports-2 Division) Md Mahfuzul Alam Khan.
The tournament aims to provide a platform for young footballers from across Bangladesh to showcase and develop their skills, with the closing and prize-giving ceremony scheduled for Monday, June 8. Senior officials of the Department of Sports and participants from different regions attended the opening, the ministry said in a press statement.
Md Aminul Haque said identifying and nurturing grassroots football talent is crucial to strengthen the country’s football sector and produce players who can represent Bangladesh nationally and internationally. He said the enthusiasm for sports in Bangladesh is high, noting that the same energy seen for cricket also extends to football.
The state minister highlighted the government’s new initiative, Notun Kuri Sports, aimed at discovering talented footballers, cricketers, chess players, and athletes from the grassroots level. He also announced plans to make divisional-level sports complexes self-sufficient and to create sports officer positions at the upazila level to enhance the standard of sports nationwide.
The event reflects the government’s focus on developing youth sports infrastructure and creating structured pathways for young athletes to progress, the ministry said.
