Football Association of Odisha (FAO) today announced an 18-member State team for the Swami Vivekananda U-20 National Football Championship (NFC), scheduled to be held at Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh from 2 to 7 May 2026. A total of 33 state and union territory teams will compete in this championship.

Teams will play league matches in eight groups and the top team from each group will qualify for quarterfinals. Odisha has been placed in Group-E, and will play their three group league matches against Lakshadweep on May 2, Karnataka on May 4 and West Bengal on May 6. Quarterfinals will take place on May 8, 9, 18 and 19, followed by semifinals on May 22 and 22. The final will be played on May 24. The Mens U-20 NFC was first held in 2024.

ODISHA TEAM:

Goalkeepers: Kuanr Barja (Mayurbhanj), Nasiruddin Khan (Cuttack).
Defenders: Dishan Munda (Keonjhar), Arakhita Majhi, Pramod Barbiha (both Balangir), Manoj Santa, Prem Piyush Bag (both Nabarangpur), Alok Kumar Das (Mayurbhanj).
Mid-fielders: Barial Tudu, Abhinash Kishan (both Sundargarh), Jagabandhu Santa (Nabarangpur), Manish Bhoi (Rourkela), Suraj Kumar Nanda (Subarnapur).
Forwards: Ronik Majhi (Sundargarh), Sankha Sekhar Hembram (Keonjhar), Sumit Bhumij, Pankaj Tanty (both Rourkela), Mohan Guntha (Nabarangpur).
Team Staff: Abani Mohan Mohanty (Head coach), Hrushikesh Behera (Assistant coach-cum-manager), Saroj Kumar Das (Physio).