AIFF Media Team

NARAINPUR, CHHATTISGARH: West Bengal, hosts Chhattisgarh, and Manipur began the Swami Vivekananda U20 Men’s National Football Championship 2026 with victories in their respective matches in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, on Saturday, May 2, 2026.

Karnataka 1 (Nirupam Gowda H 65’)
lost to
West Bengal 2 (Tanbir Dey 39’, Dhruv C 84’ og)

West Bengal began their campaign in the U20 NFC with a narrow victory against Karnataka, after a late own goal earned them the three points.

Tanbir Dey had given them the lead in the 39th minute, before Nirupam Gowda equalised in the second half. However, and 84th minute own goal by Dhruv C handed Bengal the three points.

West Bengal, with this result, are at the top of Group E with three points.

Chhattisgarh 5 (Subhadip Munda 7’, Satish Kumar Wadde 32’, 35’, Indrajit Roy 38’, Virendra Kumar 44’)
defeated
Dadra & Nagarhaveli and Daman & Diu 0

Hosts Chhattisgarh began their campaign with a bang, scoring five against Dadra & Nagarhaveli and Daman & Diu.

Satish Kumar Wadde scored two in quick succession in the 32nd and 35th minutes, after Subhadip Munda gave them an early lead. Indrajit Roy and Virendra Kumar added two more for the hosts.

Nagaland 1 (Lunmingou Singsit 39’)
lost to
Manipur 5 (Salam Sawmichandra Meitei 34’, Thounaojam Robertson Singh 47’, Loktongbam Lamjingba Singh 52’, Md Shuaib 64’, Khundongbam Carlos Singh 79’)

Manipur were the other side to get a big win on the day, defeating Nagaland 5-1.

Salam Sawmichandra Meitei’s 34th-minute goal was cancelled out five minutes later by Nagaland’s Lunmingou Singsit. However, Manipur came roaring back in the second half, with goals from Thounaojam Robertson Singh, Loktongbam Lamjingba Singh, Md Shuaib, and Khundongbam Carlos Singh.

Chhattisgarh and Manipur, occupy the top two spots in Group B, respectively, with these results, Nagaland and Dadra & Nagarhaveli and Daman & Diu are third and fourth, respectively.