Shillong, May 6: The Shillong Sports Association’s 2026 football season will begin on 7th May with the start of the U-20 Fourth Division.
The opening match will feature Mawnianglah Youth and Sei La Sap Football Coaching Centre from 4:30PM at the SSA Stadium.
Thirty-two clubs have completed the registration process (up from 29 last year) and they have been divided into six groups of five, except for Group D and E, which each have six teams.
Matches will be of 80 minutes’ duration and will be held at either the SSA Stadium or MFA Ground in Polo.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the next round, which will see four pools of three teams each. From here, the best two teams from each group will qualify for the knockout stage, with quarterfinals followed by semifinals and final. This is a continuation of 2025’s format.
Last year the Fourth Division title was won by Mawkasiang, with Mawlynrei the runners-up. They and the two losing semifinalists – Lapalang and Lummawbah – were promoted to the Third Division this season.
Relegated from last year’s Third Division are Madanrting, Imson, Gorkha Association and Laitlyngkot.
(TSR file photo)