Shillong, Oct 13: The Meghalaya government has inked a three-year deal with Indian Super League outfit Northeast United FC, which will cost the state exchequer Rs 24 crore over the period.
The agreement, signed between the Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs, the Department of Tourism and NEUFC is meant to deepen football culture, nurture emerging talent and inspire youth participation through structured development programmes and community-driven initiatives.
Under the arrangement, Shillong will once again play host to top-tier ISL action, with NEUFC scheduling four home matches this season, six in 2026 and eight in 2027.
Beyond the ISL fixtures, the collaboration will extend to a range of football development initiatives, from coaching and refereeing workshops to grassroots training camps, fan engagement zones and awareness drives in schools and colleges.
The objective, officials said, is to create a sustained football ecosystem that promotes discipline, teamwork and professional opportunities for the youth.
To facilitate this vision, the Department of Tourism will contribute Rs 5 crore annually to the project, while the DSYA will allocate Rs 2 crore, Rs 3 crore and Rs 4 crore each year over the period.
NEUFC players, along with the club’s co-owner John Abraham, will also participate in outreach programmes and promotional campaigns aimed at inspiring the next generation of Meghalaya footballers.
The deal was formally signed by Director of Tourism BL Pakyntein, Assistant Director of Sports & Youth Affairs Paia B War Nongbri and NorthEast United representative Rohit Thorat.
Meghalaya Tourism is already the lead sponsor of the ISL club and has been for a few years now. Last year the Meghalaya government signed an agreement with NorthEast United for the club to set up a state of the art residential academy in Mawkhanu.
(File photo)
