In Remote Indian Villages, Football Tournament Awards Goats Instead of Trophies

Tribal communities blend a global sport with local tradition in a forested district

In a remote district surrounded by forests and hills in India, teams from tribal villages face off in a football tournament with an unusual twist: the prize is livestock rather than trophies, according to Al Jazeera.

Instead of cups or cash, winning squads take home goats — a prize rooted in the practical and symbolic value livestock holds in the region's tribal communities, distinct from what a conventional trophy would represent.

For villages scattered across the forested district, the tournament serves as one of the few occasions to gather, compete and socialize, drawing players and spectators from across the area's Indigenous communities. It reflects how football, one of the world's most widely played sports, has been adapted to fit local custom in places far from major cities.

Al Jazeera's report did not identify the specific district, the tribal groups involved, the dates of the tournament, or the names of the competing teams.

— Compiled from reporting by Al Jazeera.