West Bengal 3 (Shagnik Kundu 12', 78', 90+4')
defeated
Delhi 0

AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: West Bengal won the Sub Junior Boys' National Football Championship 2025-26 Tier 1 title for a record-extending 14th time after outclassing Delhi 3-0 in the final on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at the Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Football Stadium in Amritsar, Punjab.

Forward Shagnik Kundu netted a hat-trick, scoring in the 12th, 78th and the 94th minute, to hand West Bengal their first Sub Junior Boys' title since 2015-16. In contrast, Delhi were appearing in their maiden final at this level.

En route to the final, West Bengal defeated Karnataka (3-0), Assam (4-0) and Uttar Pradesh (4-0) in the group stage, followed by a comeback 3-2 victory over Manipur in the semi-final.

However, the final turned out to be a one-sided affair. The opening goal took only 12 minutes as Sidu Soren showed exceptional skill and pace down the right wing to go past three Delhi players and send a low ball into the middle, beyond the reach of Delhi goalkeeper Japjot Singh, who had come out of his goal. Striker Shagnik Kundu had an empty goal to aim at and he made no mistake in putting West Bengal ahead.

Delhi were reduced to 10 in the 41st minute when Ningthoujam Thoithoiba Meetei was shown a direct red card for a rash last-man challenge on Kundu just outside the box.

Kundu doubled the advantage in the 78th minute, capitalising on a poorly-coordinated Delhi defence. The capital side failed to clear a long ball, allowing the Bengal striker to pounce on the loose ball and slot it into the empty net again from just inside the box.

The third goal was almost a carbon copy of the second. Another mix-up between the Delhi defenders and substitute goalkeeper Soham Sharma meant that all Kundu had to do to complete his hat-trick was head the bouncing ball into yet another unguarded goal.