The tournament marks only the second time Gujarat will host the championship, following the successful staging of the 2023-24 edition in Vadodara. This year, Bhavnagar becomes the latest city to welcome the country’s top futsal clubs as teams representing 13 different state associations compete for the coveted national title.

The opening day promises plenty of action, beginning with Ponda Footballers of Goa taking on Build Up Sports from Madhya Pradesh. Later in the day, former champions Minerva Academy FC will face Maharashtra’s Millat FC in a highly anticipated Group B clash before hosts Progressive Sports Academy meet defending champions Goal Hunterz FC.

A total of four groups have been formed for the competition, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarter-finals. While Group B features four teams, the remaining groups consist of three teams each, setting up an intense battle for qualification.

Group A features former champions Corbett FC alongside debutants Ponda Footballers and Build Up Sports. Corbett FC will be aiming to reclaim the title after falling short in the semi-finals during the previous edition.

Much of the spotlight, however, will be on Group B, which is widely expected to be the tournament’s toughest group. Defending champions Goal Hunterz FC, former champions Minerva Academy FC, quarter-finalists Millat FC, and hosts Progressive Sports Academy are all grouped together in a highly competitive battle for a place in the knockout rounds.

Goal Hunterz FC enter the tournament with the opportunity to make history by becoming the first team to successfully defend the AIFF Futsal Club Championship title. Minerva Academy FC, winners of the 2022-23 edition, will be looking to add another trophy to their collection after consecutive quarter-final exits. Meanwhile, Millat FC return to the competition eager to improve on their impressive quarter-final run from the 2023-24 season, while Progressive Sports Academy will enjoy the advantage of playing in front of their home supporters.

Group C introduces three new faces to the national stage, with Tlangnuam FC of Mizoram, FC Bushahr of Himachal Pradesh, and Coramandal FC of Andhra Pradesh all making their tournament debuts. Notably, Coramandal FC will become the first-ever club from Andhra Pradesh to participate in the AIFF Futsal Club Championship.

Group D also features three debutant teams, including Ganganagar City FC from Rajasthan, Young Hearts FC representing Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and Karnataka’s South Castle United FA. For Rajasthan and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, the tournament marks their first representation at the national futsal level.

Adding further excitement to this year’s competition is the presence of nine debutant clubs, highlighting the rapid growth of futsal across India and the increasing number of states investing in the sport.

Following the completion of the group stage on June 22, the tournament will move into the knockout rounds with the quarter-finals scheduled for June 24 and the semi-finals on June 26. The champions of the AIFF Futsal Club Championship 2025-26 will be crowned on June 28 at the SAG Indoor Stadium.

With experienced champions, ambitious challengers, and several exciting debutants all set to compete, the stage is perfectly set for another thrilling chapter in India’s biggest club futsal competition.

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As the only club from Maharashtra in this season’s championship, Millat FC will carry the hopes of the state into one of India’s premier futsal competitions. The tournament brings together some of the best futsal teams from across the country, offering a platform for clubs to showcase their talent against the nation’s finest.

Millat FC are no strangers to the competition. Their previous appearance came in the 2023-24 edition, where they enjoyed an impressive run to the quarter-finals before their journey came to an end against Golazo FC. Despite the disappointment of narrowly missing out on the latter stages, the campaign demonstrated the club’s potential to compete with the best futsal teams in India.

Speaking ahead of the AIFF Futsal Championship 2025-26, Millat FC owner Farhan Butt expressed confidence in the team’s preparations and ambitions for the tournament.

“Our goal this season is to win the AIFF Futsal Championship and bring the trophy home for both Millat FC and Maharashtra. Reaching the quarter-finals in our last appearance gave us valuable experience, and this time we want to go even further and compete for the title.”

He also highlighted the balance within the squad, with a mix of youth and experience expected to play a key role in the team’s campaign.

“We have added a few talented young players who are well suited to the fast-paced nature of futsal, while also strengthening the squad with experienced senior players. Having already played in this competition before, we know what to expect and what it takes to be among the top teams in the country.”

With the countdown to the AIFF Futsal Championship 2025-26 underway, all eyes will be on Millat FC as they embark on another national journey, carrying the pride of Maharashtra and the ambition of bringing home silverware.

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