13–17 September 2026 · PSSEMR School campus, Davangere
Five days. Three age groups. 1,500 of Karnataka's best school footballers, on one ground.
The CBSE Cluster VIII Football Championship 2026 — around 100 CBSE schools, boys Under-14, Under-17 and Under-19, on natural grass at the PSSEMR campus beside Davangere University. Fixtures, draws and officiating are handled by CBSE-appointed officials.
Reporting on 13 September is mandatory for all teams. Spectators are welcome, subject to the school's guidelines on the day. Fixtures are published once CBSE completes the draw — follow for updates.
- 1,500+
- players expected
- ~100
- CBSE schools
- 3
- age categories
- 5
- days of football
- 1
- venue
The rule that matters
The host school does not run the competition. Fixtures, draws and match officiating are handled by CBSE-appointed coaches and officials. PSSEMR hosts the ground, the beds, the kitchen and the medical room. The football is CBSE's.
This campus has done this before
Four CBSE championships have been hosted on this campus in two years. Football is the fifth.
| Year | Event | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | CBSE Cluster VIII Athletics Meet | — |
| 2024 | CBSE South Zone Swimming Championship | — |
| 2025 | CBSE Cluster VIII Athletics Meet | — |
| 2025 | CBSE South Zone-II Chess Championship | — |
| 2026 | CBSE Cluster VIII Football Championship | 1,500+ players expected |
Highlighted row: this championship.
Athletics twice, swimming once, chess once — the same campus, the same kitchen, the same dormitories, the same transport committee. These are photographs from the events we have hosted.
Who plays: the three categories
All ages are calculated as on 31 December 2026.
Under-14 Boys
- Born on or after
- 01.01.2013
Under-17 Boys
- Born on or after
- 01.01.2010
Under-19 Boys
- Born on or after
- 01.01.2008
Eligibility
- CBSE-registered students only, from CBSE Cluster VIII affiliated schools.
- A team is a maximum of 18 players. No player takes the field without proper kit.
- Entry as per CBSE guidelines and the CBSE online registration.
How the football works
Matches are played to the latest AIFF rules, with CBSE modifications where applicable.
- Knockout basis.If eight or fewer teams enter a category, it becomes a league.
- No extra time at cluster level.A drawn knockout match goes straight to penalties — five each, then sudden death. Only players on the field at the final whistle may take kicks.
- Match duration: 35–10–35 minutes up to the semifinals; the final is 45–10–45.Subject to weather.
- Up to seven substitutions per match.
- No team plays more than two matches in a day, with at least three hours between them.
- Semifinal losers play a hard-line match for third place.
- Protests go to a Jury of Appeal — the Organizing School Principal, the Organizing Secretary and the CBSE Observer — whose decision is final and reported to the Joint Director (Sports), CBSE.
Winning teams qualify toward the CBSE National level, where the format becomes league-cum-knockout.
The shape of the five days
Day 1
— Reporting day
Attendance mandatoryEvery team reports today. This is not optional.
- School buses meet teams at Davangere Railway Station and Bus Stand and bring them to campus, free of cost. Call the transport in-charge when you arrive.
- Registration and document verification on campus.
- Time to be announcedOpening ceremony and march past — mandatory for all teams and officials. Bring your school flag.
- 6:00 PMCoach and Manager meeting on the school premises. Mandatory.
Days 2–4
— Match days
Knockout rounds across the three categories on the natural grass ground. No team plays more than two matches a day. Fixtures are drawn and published by the CBSE-appointed officials.
Day 5
— Finals day
Finals in all three categories (45–10–45), third-place matches, prize distribution. Teams are dropped back to the railway station and bus stand.
The document checklist for 13 September
Screenshot this. Every team must carry all eight on reporting day.
- A consent letter (letter of authorization) from the Principal of the school.
- Two copies of the admit card as per CBSE online registration, signed by the Principal.
- The participants' list as per CBSE online registration, signed by the Principal.
- Original age-proof documents for every player — Birth Certificate, School ID Card, Aadhaar Card.
- A team photograph with the School Principal, countersigned by the Principal.
- The official school flag, for the march past.
- Two recent passport-size photographs of each participant, for the ID card.
- ID card formalities as per CBSE guidelines are completed at registration.
Date of birth is calculated as on 31 December 2026.
What the campus provides
The ground
A natural grass football ground on the PSSEMR campus, beside Davangere University.
Stay
Teams stay on campus, in the school's residential dormitories. Beds are allotted first-come, first-served on reporting day. Bring a blanket.
For arrangements and charges: Mr. Praveen — 99000 33828
Food
All meals are served in the school dining hall, from the campus kitchen that feeds the school's boarders year-round. The campus is fully vegetarian, and outside eatables are not permitted in the dining hall. The complete five-day menu is published below.
For anything about food: Mr. Sandeep — 81059 07591
Medical
First-aid and medical support beside the ground on all five days.
Transport
Free throughout the meet: pickup from Davangere Railway Station and Bus Stand on 13 September, drop on the day you leave.
- Emergency transport: Mr. Ajay — 99863 79764.
Transport in-charge: Mr. Sanket — 99002 40093
Event management and security
The event is run by the school's staff committees with campus security throughout. Teams are under supervision on campus at all times.
For visiting teams
Where.
PSSEMR School campus, Tolahunse / Shivagangotri, beside Davangere University, Davangere 577002, Karnataka.
Getting here.
Davangere is on the Bengaluru–Hubballi line (NH-48). Roughly 260 km from Bengaluru, 140 km from Hubballi, 75 km from Shivamogga. School buses meet your team at Davangere Railway Station or Bus Stand on 13 September — call the transport committee when you arrive.
Before you travel.
Send your travel plan to the Organizing Secretary at least one week before the meet. Mr. Venkatesh Prasad — 80888 02651.
On campus, the short version of the rules:
- The campus is fully vegetarian. Alcohol, tobacco and smoking are strictly prohibited — a violation disqualifies the entire team.
- Do not leave the premises without permission. Lights off at 10:00 PM.
- Keep your ID card with you at all times. Valuables are your own responsibility.
- Obtain an NOC from the wardens before checking out.
- The full guidelines for coaches, managers and participants are shared on reporting.
For spectators
All are welcome to watch the finest young football talent from CBSE schools compete — parents, students and the people of Davangere alike. Entry is subject to the school's guidelines on the day. Match timings follow the CBSE fixture list; follow the school's channels for the schedule once the draw is published.
Talk to a person
These are the staff running the championship. Call any of them directly — you will not be routed through a switchboard.
Mr. Venkatesh Prasad
Organizing Secretary
80888 02651Mr. Praveen
Accommodation
99000 33828Mr. Sandeep
Food
81059 07591Mr. Sanket
Transport
99002 40093Mr. Ajay
Transport (emergency)
99863 79764
Questions a PE teacher usually asks
Who runs the fixtures and the refereeing?
CBSE-appointed coaches and officials. The host school provides the venue, stay, food, transport and medical support — not the draw and not the whistle.
Who is eligible?
CBSE-registered boys from CBSE Cluster VIII affiliated schools. Under-14 born on or after 01.01.2013, Under-17 on or after 01.01.2010, Under-19 on or after 01.01.2008 — all calculated as on 31 December 2026.
How big is a squad?
Maximum 18 players. Up to seven substitutions in a match.
What happens if a match is drawn?
At cluster level there is no extra time. A drawn knockout match goes straight to penalties.
Where do our boys sleep and eat?
On campus. Dormitory beds are allotted first-come, first-served on reporting day; all meals are served in the school dining hall from a published five-day vegetarian menu. For arrangements and charges, call Mr. Praveen (99000 33828) for stay and Mr. Sandeep (81059 07591) for food.
How do we reach the campus?
School buses pick your team up free from Davangere Railway Station and Bus Stand on 13 September and drop you back on the day you leave. Send your travel plan to the Organizing Secretary a week in advance.
Is reporting on the 13th really mandatory?
Yes. Registration, document verification, the opening ceremony, the march past and the 6:00 PM coach–manager meeting all happen on the 13th. Bring your school flag.
Can parents come and watch?
Yes — spectators are welcome, subject to the school's guidelines on the day.
What if we want to protest a result?
Protests go to a Jury of Appeal: the Organizing School Principal, the Organizing Secretary and the CBSE Observer. Both parties are heard, and the decision is final.
When will the match schedule be out?
Once the CBSE-appointed officials complete the draw after registration. Follow linktr.ee/pssemrschool for the announcement.
Your school's name, announced on this ground.
Five days. Three age groups. Around a hundred schools. The campus that has hosted four CBSE championships is ready for its fifth.
Here is a message you can forward to your PE teacher:
Sir/Ma'am — the CBSE Cluster VIII Football Championship 2026 is at PSSEMR, Davangere, 13–17 September. U14, U17 and U19 boys, stay and food on campus, free transport from the station. Everything is published here: pssemrschool.com/cluster-football