The Ministry of Education said on Friday that the national-level competition of the Primary School Gold Cup Football Tournament (Boys and Girls) 2026 is one of the world’s largest school-based sports events, with participation of more than 2.2 million students.

The ministry said the event has been organised as part of the government’s efforts to make primary education more vibrant and enjoyable. The Directorate of Primary Education under the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education is conducting the tournament, according to a press release issued by the Education Ministry on Friday.

There are 65,569 government primary schools in the country, with around 10 million students enrolled. Of them, 4,691,698 are boys and 5,256,734 are girls.

In this year’s Gold Cup Football Tournament, 65,342 teams and 1,110,814 players participated in the boys’ category, while 65,321 teams and 1,103,291 players took part in the girls’ category, the ministry said. In total, more than 2,214,000 young players joined the competition, according to the statement.

The tournament began at the union and municipal levels on 6 April this year. It gradually advanced through upazila, district and divisional stages before reaching the national level. Over nearly two months, the competition created a festive atmosphere across the country, from remote villages to urban areas.

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon inaugurated the national stage of the competition on Thursday as the chief guest at National Bangla High School in Mirpur.

Special guests included Primary and Mass Education State Minister Bobby Hajjaj and Prime Minister’s Education Adviser Dr Mahdi Amin.

At the inauguration ceremony, the education minister said children are the future of the nation, adding that the tournament would help them develop sporting skills and grow into capable individuals.

A total of 16 teams --champions from eight divisions, comprising eight boys’ teams and eight girls’ teams -- are participating in the national stage.

The organisers said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring equal participation of boys and girls in sports.

The final match and closing ceremony of the national competition will be held on 20 June at Bangladesh Army Stadium in Dhaka. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to attend the event and distribute prizes among the winners.

The statement further said with massive student participation, equal opportunities for boys and girls, and a structured progression from grassroots to national level, the tournament has set a new benchmark in the country’s sports and education sectors. It is expected to help produce future national and international-level athletes while contributing to a healthier, more creative and confident generation.