Indian football entered a historic new era this month as the country’s first-ever transgender football league officially kicked off. Part of the Jamshedpur Super League (JSL), the tournament has provided 70 transgender athletes with a professional platform to showcase their talent and reclaim their place in the world of sports.
The landmark initiative, launched by Jamshedpur FC in collaboration with the Tata Sports Complex, features seven teams competing in a high-energy, five-a-side format. The league represents a major stride toward inclusivity, ensuring that football truly “belongs to everyone.”
The tournament is being played at the 40,000-capacity JRD Tata Sports Complex and other local grounds, putting the players on the same stage as the city’s youth and veteran leagues. For many participants, the simple act of wearing a team jersey and playing in a professional environment is a dream decades in the making.
The seven teams making history are:
Jamshedpur FT
Chaibasa FC
Chakradharpur FC
Jamshedpur Indranagar FC
Naomundi FC
Saraikela FC
Kolhan Tiger FC
The inaugural match saw an explosive performance by Jamshedpur FT, who secured a dominant 7–0 victory over Chaibasa FC. Forward Puja Soy emerged as the league’s first breakout star, netting an incredible four goals.
“Football is such a beautiful sport, and for the first time, I felt like I wasn’t being seen for my gender, but for my game,” Soy remarked after the match. Her sentiment was echoed by teammates and rivals alike, who expressed that the league has offered them a sense of belonging and professional respect long denied to the transgender community. The league’s 70 players come from diverse backgrounds—including Tata Steel employees, daily wage laborers, and students. By integrating this category into the JSL—India’s largest grassroots football movement—organizers hope to dismantle social barriers through the universal language of sport.
“Inclusivity is not just a theme for us; it is a responsibility,” said Kundan Chandra, Head of Youth Development and Grassroots at Jamshedpur FC. “This league reinforces our belief that sport can lead to profound societal change.” The tournament will continue over the next several months, with matches scheduled every Sunday, promising a future where talent is the only metric that matters on the pitch.
