The Under-13 Age Group State IFA Youth League Tournament Begins

News Desk. News Nation 360: An important turning point for grassroots football in West Bengal was reached on May 6, 2026, when the IFA State Youth League for the Under-13 age category opened at the R10 Football Playground within Merlin Rise. Club Pavilion, which is owned by the Merlin Group, defeated Uttarpara Bazar Lane Tarun Sangha 1-0 in the first game. 66 teams compete in this state-level developmental competition, which is run by the Indian Football Association (IFA). There are 18 teams in the Under-13 division, 26 in the Under-15 division, and 22 in the Under-17 division. The league offers organised competition for IFA-affiliated clubs and academies and was created as a route to professional football. All Merlin Club Pavilion games will take place at Merlin Rise, a first-of-its-kind sports-integrated township in Eastern India, which will use its specialised facilities, such as the R10 Football Academy and the Yuvraj Singh Centre of Excellence, to develop young local talent.

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