The SFL Football League Pune 2025-26 finished its first season with finals in five age groups. The closing games brought academies, young players, and families together from across Pune. Organisers said the event showed strong interest in organised grassroots football. The Pune season also marked SFL's wider push beyond Mumbai's youth football scene.
SFL said the Pune edition offered a structured league setting that many players had not seen. The organisers highlighted scheduled fixtures, league standings, match officials, and matchday crowds. Alongside Pune's completed season, SFL said Season 2 in Mumbai was already in progress. The platform positions itself as a professionally run youth football competition.
The finals were closely fought and
ended with different academies lifting titles. UKM Kothrud FA won the U7 final against Metrocity FA. Futbol Futuro took the U9 crown after edging Jaguars FA. Rising Pune FC secured the U11 title versus 4 Lions Academy Wakad Oranje. Young Steps FA won U13, beating Metrocity FA.
South United Kharadi (SUK) won the U15 final after overcoming The Oranje Academy. Organisers described the U15 match as intense and linked it to strong preparation. The U11 final was also flagged as highly competitive, with the outcome unclear until late. The five finals, taken together, underlined the range of youth teams active in Pune.
The match results can be read quickly in the table below, grouped by age category. The finals formed the centrepiece of the season-ending event. SFL said the schedule gave players a taste of competitive pressure. The league format also aimed to mirror how longer seasons work, rather than isolated tournaments.
SFL Pune League 2025-26 Results
| Age group | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| U7 | UKM Kothrud FA | Metrocity FA |
| U9 | Futbol Futuro | Jaguars FA |
| U11 | Rising Pune FC | 4 Lions Academy Wakad Oranje |
| U13 | Young Steps FA | Metrocity FA |
| U15 | South United Kharadi (SUK) | The Oranje Academy |
Bhaichung Bhutia unveiled the SFL Football League season trophy at the finals. Bhutia is a former captain of the Indian national football team. SFL linked Bhutia's presence to earlier involvement with the Mumbai edition. Organisers also said Bhutia stressed the need for regular matches for youth players.
SFL said the league was built to fix a common issue in youth football. It described a gap between academy training and elite selection. The Pune season aimed to provide consistent competition in a season format. SFL also pointed to standard match operations, with results, standings, and officials, to support player development.
SFL Football League Pune model: families, community, and matchday support
The organisers said the league was designed to include families, not only teams. Matchdays were presented as community events, with parents following progress through the season. SFL described parent involvement as part of its approach to sustaining grassroots sport. The Pune finals, with families in attendance, reflected that matchday focus.
SFL Football League Pune expansion: links to Mumbai Season 2
SFL said Pune's first season followed the earlier league set-up in Mumbai. It also noted Mumbai Season 2 was underway during Pune's finale. The organisation linked the Pune move to the city's growing youth sports base. It also cited the number of football academies and demand from parents and coaches.
The organisers said the expansion model was meant to work across cities. SFL described a standard league structure and central technology platform. It also referred to consistent operating standards for a similar experience across locations. SFL added it had indicated plans to take the league to more cities in coming seasons.
SFL Football League Pune technology: Live streaming and the SFL App
SFL said technology was a key feature of the league experience. It stated that matches were live-streamed for parents, scouts, and supporters. The organisers added that player statistics and match data were recorded and shown in the SFL App. SFL said this was meant to improve visibility for players and families.
SFL also linked the data to longer-term tracking for talent identification. The organisers said this type of record was often missing at youth level in India. Separately, SFL said the Pune league was supported by partners, including venue, equipment, media, and technology collaborators. It described this as shared support for youth sport development.
SFL said the Football League would return to Pune for Season 2 later in 2026. The organisers added that bigger participation and more age categories were under consideration. With Pune Season 1 completed and Mumbai Season 2 running, SFL presented its league format as a structured option for youth players seeking regular competition.
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