Tiger Shroff Set to Debut in Football’s Durand Cup with Mumbay FC
Bollywood star Tiger Shroff is making a surprising leap from film to football. He is now part of Mumbay FC’s squad for the prestigious Durand Cup, where he could potentially make his professional debut.
According to Zoheb Amrani, co-owner of Mumbay FC, Shroff has been officially registered with the team and is currently undergoing training. The actor might join the squad for at least one of their group matches in Shillong.
“Tiger is registered with us, and we are organizing everything for his travel,” Amrani said. “He’s a big name, so we must plan for security in smaller cities where he might attract large crowds. We want to ensure everything goes smoothly.”
Shroff has been associated with Mumbay FC since its establishment in 2024 and has actively participated in the Mumbai District League. He’s not just a celebrity endorsement; he genuinely enjoys the game.
Amrani recognized Shroff’s talent during a 2023 influencers league match that also featured stars like Ranbir Kapoor and MS Dhoni. “I saw Tiger’s skills and his understanding of football during that game,” he recalled.
After forming the club, Amrani invited Shroff to practice with the team. “He loves making those tactical plays,” Amrani noted. Initially, he thought Shroff was joking about wanting to play professionally. However, Shroff took it seriously.
“I got his registration sorted out and explained that this isn’t just a casual tournament,” Amrani said. “He was very professional about it.”
Now, Shroff’s journey could lead him to one of football’s oldest tournaments.
Mumbay FC’s Upcoming Matches in the Durand Cup
Mumbay FC will start their Durand Cup group matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. They will face Langsning SC on August 3, followed by a match against Shillong Lajong on August 8, and Nongkseh SS & CC on August 11.
Whether Shroff plays will depend on the club’s final arrangements, but his involvement could draw considerable attention to Mumbay FC, especially as they make their debut in the tournament.
Amrani believes this attention can benefit the younger players on the team. “Having Tiger with us might give our players a chance to be noticed by bigger clubs,” he mentioned, adding that even one player getting scouted would be a valuable outcome for the club.
However, Mumbay FC faces common difficulties encountered by football teams in Mumbai. Finding good natural grass pitches is challenging, and artificial fields can be costly and hard to reserve.
Currently, the team trains at the Cooperage Ground and has established a smaller setup in Navi Mumbai to help players acclimate to playing on natural surfaces.
The Durand Cup isn’t just an opportunity for Mumbay FC to shine nationally; it’s also a chance to showcase Maharashtra’s football talent. “I want to highlight that our players are truly talented. The Durand Cup is the perfect platform for them,” Amrani expressed.
Maharashtra used to have several professional football clubs, but Amrani feels the options for local players have dwindled significantly.
If everything goes according to plan, we could witness one of the most unexpected football debuts this year. Tiger Shroff, the action star of Bollywood, may soon add professional footballer to his resume.
