Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament from Hoshiarpur, Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal, recently met with the Youth Football Club (YFC) team representing India in the Street Child World Cup. During his visit, the MP announced a monetary assistance grant of Rs 5 lakh for the YFC Rurka Kalan, alongside Rs 5 crore road development grant for villages in the region.
Interacting with the squad at the club’s headquarters, Dr Chabbewal motivated the young athletes and urged them to secure a victory in the prestigious global tournament. Since his visit, the 10-member team from Rurka Kalan has successfully advanced to the semi-finals of the tournament, which is currently underway in Mexico.
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A model for rural sports infrastructure
Dr Chabbewal expressed immense pride that a grassroots organisation like the YFC is representing both Punjab and India on the world stage. He praised the club’s relentless efforts to promote sports in the region, noting that they have established a robust infrastructure that meets international standards.
Lauding the YFC framework as one of the best sports models in the country — and one that should be replicated in other villages — the MP encouraged the players to give their all in the tournament, scheduled from May 5 to 15. The Street Child World Cup showcases top-tier talent from players aged 14 to 17.
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Major connectivity boost for local villages
In a significant development for the regional infrastructure, the MP announced that an 18-foot-wide road connecting Rurka Kalan, Ghurka, Pandwan and Mauli would soon be constructed at a cost of over Rs 5 crore.
Dr Chabbewal emphasised that the new road would drastically ease commuting for local residents. He assured that construction work would commence shortly, as all administrative formalities were in their final stages of completion.
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Global stage, local pride
YFC Chairman Gurmangal Dass expressed his gratitude to the MP for his support and congratulated the team on their stellar performance in the Street Child World Cup 2026. He noted that representing India internationally would further amplify the club’s mission to elevate rural sports.
According to Dass, this year’s tournament features 30 teams from across the globe, comprising 17 girls’ teams and 13 boys’ teams.
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Participating countries (Boys): Wales, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Hungary, India, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Pakistan, Mexico, Malaysia and Indonesia.
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Participating countries (Girls): Brazil, Bangladesh, Bolivia, DR Congo, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Palestine, England, Philippines, Kenya, USA, Germany, South Africa, and Wales.
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The Indian squad
The Indian boys’ contingent consists of talented YFC players: Silas Sidhu, Arshdeep, Jashanpreet, Rajan Jakhu, Sameer, Raminder Singh, Sam Masih, Shamsher Singh, Akash (Goalkeeper) and Raunak.
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Support staff: Head coach Anwar Ali, team leader Harsh Jaysukh Chotalia and team manager Nupur Nag.
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This is not the first time that the YFC has shined on the global stage. The club previously clinched a historic victory at the Street Child World Cup held in Durban, South Africa, in 2010.
