The 19th Ascent Corporate Cup, Bangladesh’s oldest amateur corporate five-a-side football tournament, will kick off on 2 July 2026 at Scholastica Uttara Campus, bringing together corporate teams and futsal enthusiasts from across the country, organisers said in a press release.
Organised since 2006, the tournament has grown into a fixture on Bangladesh’s amateur football calendar. Ascent Group has served as the title sponsor since 2008, and, following increased competition, the event has been divided into the Premier League for elite teams and the Championship League for emerging and developing sides since 2024.
This year’s tournament is backed by Ascent Group as title sponsor. Turaag Active and Securex are co-sponsors, while Emkay Enterprises, Polar Ice Cream, Interport Group and BG Interactive are associate sponsors. Gold Kinen is the gift partner, The Business Standard is the news partner, Aamra Networks is the Wi-Fi partner and SMC Plus is the hydration partner.
A longstanding feature of the tournament is the Ascent Legacy Match, which is played before the Championship Final and highlights organisations that use football to promote inclusion, opportunity and social impact. Previous editions have partnered with the JAAGO Foundation, the Bangladesh Wheelchair Cricket Association and Power of She.
This year, the Ascent Legacy Match will be held in partnership with Thrive to showcase the talent and potential of young footballers from underprivileged schools in Dhaka’s informal settlements.
The 30-minute exhibition match will feature two teams of aspiring players, with organisers placing the emphasis on potential rather than poverty, and opportunity rather than charity.
For many of the participants, it will be their first opportunity to play in a world-class indoor futsal arena. They will compete on the same court under the same lights as players in the Ascent Corporate Cup and will receive the same recognition and medals as other participants.
The initiative reflects the tournament’s belief that football should provide equal opportunity regardless of background, with talent, respect and opportunity taking precedence on the pitch, according to the press release.
