KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 8 The national stage of the Asian Paints Champions Cup 2026, an all-Nepal inter-school U-18 football tournament, begins on Thursday with provincial champions competing for the boys' and girls' national titles. The three-day group stage will be held in Kathmandu, Nepalgunj and Butwal, with the top teams from each group advancing to the national finals at Dashrath Stadium on October 12. In the boys' competition, Group A features Manakamana Secondary School of Bagmati, Ideal Co-Ed Academy of Madhesh and Sushma Godawari College of Koshi. Their matches will be played at Dashrath Stadium, beginning with Manakamana facing Ideal Co-Ed Academy on Thursday. Group B comprises Gurukul Vidhya Sadan of Gandaki, Sagarmatha Secondary B School of Lumbini and SPL Academy of Sudurpaschim. Their matches will be held at Nepalgunj Stadium, with Sagarmatha Secondary B School facing Gurukul Vidhya Sadan in the opening fixture. The winners of the two boys' groups will meet in the final at Dashrath Stadium on October 12. In the girls' competition, Group A consists of Shree Jiwan Jyoti Secondary School of Sudurpaschim, the winner of Gandaki Province and Kanti Ma Vi of Lumbini. Their matches will be played at the ANFA Academy in Butwal. Group B features Jana Jyoti Secondary School of Madhesh, Shiksha Sadan Secondary School of Koshi and Venus National College of Bagmati. Their matches will be held at Dashrath Stadium. The winners of the two girls' groups will meet in the final at Dashrath Stadium on October 12. The tournament is organised by The Himalayan Times. Asian Paints is the title sponsor, while Ncell is the powered-by partner.