New Delhi, March 14, 2026: The STAIRS Foundation has announced the relaunch of its flagship STAIRS School Football League (SSFL) as a National Football Scouting Program for 2026, aimed at identifying and nurturing young football talent across India. The initiative will be rolled out across 10 states during March–April 2026, with international footballer and former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper David Forde joining the programme to help strengthen scouting standards and talent evaluation.
The programme, organised by the Society for Transformation, Inclusion and Recognition through Sports (STAIRS), a National Sports Promotion Organisation recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is designed to create a structured pathway for promising school-level football players. Through open trials, structured scouting and a national-level camp, the initiative seeks to connect young athletes with clubs, academies and university-linked opportunities.
The relaunch aims to revive the legacy of SSFL, which previously played an important role in grassroots football development. The 2026 edition will focus on the Boys Under-17 category (players born between 2010 and 2013), with plans to expand the programme in future editions to include U-8 to U-17 categories for both boys and girls, thereby building a wider grassroots talent pipeline.
Speaking about the initiative, Siddhartha Upadhyay, Founder & President, STAIRS Foundation, said, “Relaunching SSFL is a proud moment for STAIRS. SSFL is a legendary grassroots program that helped shape India’s school football and talent-scouting narrative, and in 2026 we are bringing it back with a sharper purpose—10 states, merit-based evaluation, and a clear, predictable pathway from state trials to the national finals. I’m especially happy to welcome David Forde to this mission. His international exposure and focus on mental toughness and competitive discipline will add immense value—helping us train scouts, raise evaluation standards, and prepare young players for what the next level demands.”
Former Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper David Forde, who will contribute to training scouts and supporting the final evaluation of players at the national camp, said, “Indian football has exciting emerging talent, and what makes the difference is a system that finds it early and supports it the right way. I’m genuinely happy to join STAIRS and SSFL in building a scouting framework where players are assessed consistently and given a fair opportunity to progress. Along with performance, young athletes also need the right mindset, discipline, and everyday habits to handle competitive environments. SSFL’s intent to connect grassroots players to real next steps—academies, clubs, and education-linked opportunities—is exactly the kind of pathway young players need.”
The programme will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will feature open state trials across multiple cities, with two to three trial events in each participating state to form state squads. In the second phase, shortlisted teams will participate in a National Final Camp scheduled in Anand, Gujarat, from April 7 to April 11, 2026, where players will undergo match-based scouting and evaluation.
The STAIRS Foundation has been working in the field of grassroots sports and youth development since 2000 and has been recognised with the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar by the President of India for its contribution to identifying and nurturing young sporting talent.
Through the relaunch of SSFL, the organisation aims to strengthen grassroots football development and create a transparent and repeatable talent identification system that provides young players—especially those from underserved communities—with access to professional training and competitive opportunities.
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