Chattogram: The inauguration ceremony of the Prime Minister Gold Cup National Football Tournament 2026 has been postponed by one month due to the prevailing flood situation and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations, Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon said on Thursday.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the tournament will now be inaugurated in Chattogram on September 9 or 10 by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, as announced by the minister during a press conference held at the Chattogram Press Club. The postponement affects only the formal opening ceremony, with the tournament schedule remaining unchanged.
Under the existing schedule, secondary-level matches at the upazila level are set to begin on August 9, with higher secondary matches commencing from October 6. District-level matches will start on August 27 for secondary levels and on October 13 for higher secondary levels, while divisional-level matches for both categories will kick off on October 22. The national-level matches are slated to run from October 27 to October 30.
Milon emphasized that the Prime Minister’s Gold Cup National Football Tournament 2026 is being organized under the direct patronage of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. “When we invited the Prime Minister to inaugurate the tournament, he instructed us to hold the opening ceremony in the port city of Chattogram. Accordingly, a colourful inaugural ceremony will be held at Chattogram District Stadium, where the Prime Minister will formally open the competition as the chief guest,” he stated.
The minister further noted that around 1.5 crore students from 40,231 educational institutions nationwide are anticipated to participate in the tournament. The initiative aims to identify football talent from the grassroots, promote students’ physical and mental development, and contribute to strengthening the country’s sports economy.
Milon also highlighted the government’s efforts to create a sports-friendly environment in educational institutions to help keep the younger generation away from drugs and crime. State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin, was also present at the press conference.
Following the press conference, the minister visited the Chattogram District Stadium to inspect preparations for the tournament.