Shillong, Oct 12: Blending sports, youth empowerment, and tourism, the Government of Meghalaya has inked a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Northeast United Football Club (NEUFC) to propel the state’s vision of becoming the football capital of India.
The partnership — spanning 2025 to 2028 — brings together the Department of Tourism, the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs, and NEUFC to promote football culture, inspire youth participation, and position Meghalaya as a top sports tourism destination.
Under the MoU, Shillong will once again echo with the chants of football fans as NEUFC is set to host its Indian Super League (ISL) home matches in the city — four this season, six next year, and eight in the final year. Football camps, coach training, fan parks, and youth awareness programmes will also be rolled out across the state to nurture grassroots talent and enhance engagement.
To sustain this ambitious initiative, the Department of Tourism will invest ₹5 crore annually, while the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs will contribute ₹2 crore, ₹3 crore, and ₹4 crore respectively over the three years.
The collaboration will also see NEUFC players and team co-owner John Abraham feature in Meghalaya’s youth and tourism campaigns, promoting the state’s unique identity as both a football hub and a vibrant travel destination.
The MoU was signed by B.L. Pakyntien, MCS, Director, Department of Tourism; P.B. War Nongbri, Assistant Director, Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs; and Rohit Thorat, representing Northeast United Football Club.
