AIFF PR Team
KOLKATA: Ladakh is a land whose breathtaking natural beauty leaves visitors spellbound. For many Indians, a trip to Leh-Ladakh is a dream. But beyond its mountains and landscapes, Ladakh has witnessed another remarkable transformation over the past five years — a football revolution.
The turning point came in 2025, when 1 Ladakh FC participated in the Durand Cup. Playing in their first-ever professional tournament, the team held their own, securing one point and earning widespread appreciation for their attractive style of football. But the story of football in Ladakh isn't just limited to the club.
In a region with a relatively small population, the passion for football is immense. Yet playing the sport is far from easy. For nearly six months of the year, snowfall, extreme weather conditions, freezing winds and the challenges of playing at an altitude of around 11,000 feet make football a difficult pursuit. Financial constraints add another layer to the challenge.
But none of this has stopped the people of Ladakh from dreaming big.
1 Ladakh FC founder and General Secretary of Ladakh Football Association, Ms Tsering Angmo, believes that the region has no shortage of footballing talent.
“There is football talent hidden in every part of Ladakh. Our aim is to see future football stars emerge from Ladakh itself. We do not want to depend on players from outside. Our priority is to identify and develop local talent.
"The players who represented us in the Durand Cup are now contributing to football in Ladakh in different ways. Some are taking up coaching, while others are even becoming referees. We want to bring a professional structure to football in Ladakh so that the next generation can grow up in the right environment, go on to play in the ISL and the IFL, and eventually represent the country.”
For the union territory, 1 Ladakh FC’s participation in the Durand Cup was the first major step in a much larger journey. For the first time, football fans across India saw that Ladakh was not only a place of stunning landscapes but also a region with a deep-rooted football culture and talented players.
Building on that momentum, 1 Ladakh FC has also established a football school called ‘Football For All’, where children from across Ladakh can come and train at least three days a week.
The football infrastructure in the region is growing as well. Leh and Kargil already have two FIFA-recognised professional football pitches, while the Ladakh Football Association and Angmo are working towards developing more playing fields and facilities in the coming years.
The growth of the game has been particularly visible at the grassroots level.
“You would not believe how much has changed recently. Five local leagues have started in Ladakh. In August 2026, Ladakh hosted its first professional women’s football tournament, with eight teams taking part, and every player was a resident of Ladakh," said Angmo.
“The government and the AIFF have provided significant support over the last five years. We have recently introduced a sports policy, and the government has also announced employment opportunities through the sports quota.
“We have taken the experience of the Durand Cup and decided that we want to build a complete football ecosystem in Ladakh. We know it will take time. Even if it takes three or four years, we are ready to invest that time in our own boys and girls.”
From battling snowfall and high-altitude conditions to creating professional pathways for young players, Ladakh’s football story is slowly but steadily changing.
For a place where winter can put football on hold for almost half the year, Ladakh is proving that passion for the beautiful game never takes a break.
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