Dr T Ao Trophy 2026: A homecoming for Nagaland football

The 25th Dr. T. Ao Trophy Inter-District Football Championship 2026 was officially launched with the unveiling of its poster during a ceremony held at Hotel Japfü, Kohima, on Friday. The event also marked the first meeting of the organising committee for the silver jubilee edition.
This is the biggest football event of the state and is hosted by Nagaland Football Association under the aegis of All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The upcoming edition will be hosted by the Mokokchung District Football Association (MDFA), and will take place at the newly built Rempukong Astroturf in Ungma village. The organisers assured that all spectator facilities, including the galleries, would be completed well ahead of the tournament.
Speaking at the occasion after unveiling the poster, president of Kohima Aor Telongjem (KAT), T. Chubayanger, described the day as one of profound significance for the Naga sporting community. He said the 25th edition was more than a competition, it was a “homecoming of history,” as Mokokchung, the birthplace of the legendary Dr. Talimeren Ao, prepares to host the state’s most prestigious football tournament.
He noted that the Dr. T. Ao Trophy had, over 25 years, become a legacy of inspiration that transcends sport. “In 2026, the land where a young boy once played barefoot will echo again with the cheers of a new generation he continues to inspire,” he said, referring to Dr. Ao’s early years in Mokokchung before he rose to captain the Indian football team at the 1948 London Olympics.
Chubayanger underscored that Dr. Ao’s legacy was built not just on sporting achievement but on character and humility. He called the upcoming edition a celebration of identity, belonging, and the enduring pride of Nagaland.
He extended his appreciation to the Nagaland Football Association for keeping the tournament alive for a quarter of a century and lauded the MDFA for taking up the responsibility of hosting the milestone edition. He also urged players to embody Dr. Ao’s values, saying, “Play not only to win but to inspire, to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship that he personified.”
The ceremony was chaired by MDFA president, N. Akok Longkumer, and attended by the convenor of the organising committee and Advisor, Transport and Technical Education, Temjenmenba; secretary of the organising committee and Director, Nagaland State Lotteries, Imsongmeren; and NFA vice president, Meyisanger Lemtur, among other officials from MDFA and KAT.
With the unveiling of the poster, preparations have formally begun for the 25th Dr. T. Ao Trophy, which promises to be both a celebration of Nagaland’s football excellence and a heartfelt tribute to one of its greatest sons.