Shillong Champions Cup 2026 Kicks Off With Ten Teams

Shillong: The Shillong Sports Association is ready for the 2026 Champions Cup. Ten teams will fight for the title starting November 3 at SSA Stadium. The tournament wraps up in early December. SSA president and MLA Banteidor Lyngdoh showed off the trophy this Monday. He handed each club a 50,000 rupee check to help with training costs.

This year features a fresh field. Last year's winner, Nongkseh, failed to qualify after a third-place finish in the Shillong Premier League. Their absence guarantees a new name on the trophy. Shillong Lajong is the only club returning for a second straight run after their 2025 final loss.

The teams split into two groups. Group A packs in Mawlai, Nongkrem, Mawpat, Lamlynti, and Mawpdang. Group B includes Shillong Lajong, Mawkhar, Sohryngkham, Sanmer, and Sei La Sap FCC. Top finishers in each group move to the semi-finals. To level the field, lower-tier clubs can borrow five players from elsewhere, while top-tier teams must stick to their registered rosters. Mawlai faces Lamlynti at 2:30 pm on opening day.

Lyngdoh noted the event helps local players reach the national stage. Addressing the clubs, he stated, "the SSA aimed to work closely with them to make the second edition more successful." Officials expect a hard fight for the cup as these clubs aim for city-wide bragging rights.