History · Est. 2012
From Kilinochchi to the World: The Story of Tamil Eelam Football
Two decades, two Asia Cup titles, one World Cup final — the journey of the Tamil Eelam national teams from 2003 to today.
The Tamil Eelam football team was first established in Kilinochchi in 2003, when talented players from across the North and East competed against local sides around the country. In 2007, restrictions in the homeland forced the team into an indefinite hiatus — but the dream did not die.
Reborn in the diaspora
In April 2012, Jana S and Ragesh N re-established the association through the Global Tamil Youth League, and the Tamil Eelam Football Association was born. Weeks later, the men's team made its international debut at the 2012 VIVA World Cup in Erbil, Kurdistan — finishing 7th, crowned by a 4-0 win over Raetia with a Menan N hat-trick.
Learning on the world stage
The 2014 CONIFA World Football Cup in Östersund brought hard lessons — and a famous 10-0 win over Darfur, still one of the biggest victories in the team's history. In 2018, the World Football Cup came home to London, where Tamil Eelam beat Tuvalu 4-3 at Sutton United, powered by a Prashanth R hat-trick.
A new chapter: the women's team
History was made in Bern in 2022 with the first women's national team trials, led by head coach Theepan A. Just two years later, that team reached the CONIFA Women's World Cup final in Bodø — on debut.
Champions of Asia
The men won the CONIFA Asia Cup in Lisbon in 2023 — a first continental title — and defended it in London in 2025, roared on by thousands of the diaspora. One nation. One team. One dream.
