India village teams trade cash prizes for live goats as World Cup finals unfold nearby.

In a quiet corner where forests meet hills, teams from tribal villages gather to chase football glory and live goats. While the global stage buzzed with Spain lifting its second World Cup trophy and celebrating the GOATS who dominated the month-long event in New York, a remote village in eastern India decided to join the party on its own terms.

The action took place in Chaibasa, Jharkhand state. Residents of Tirilbasa launched their own tournament from July 14 through July 17. Sixty-four nearby villages sent squads to compete. The event was called the Rangila Star Tirilbasa tournament. That word rangila simply means colourful in Hindi.

The real draw went beyond cash prizes. A whole herd of goats waited as trophies for the winning teams. Final matches happened on Friday. NCS Maudi defeated Kumbaram by a single goal, 1-0. It mirrored the dramatic finish between Spain and Argentina just two days later in New York. The winner took home prize money of 15,000 rupees, which equals about $156. They also received three male goats known locally as khassi because they are castrated early.

The runners-up, Kumbaram, walked away with 12,000 rupees or roughly $125 plus two khassis. Third and fourth place went to Kobra FC Nimdhi and Galubasa FC. They each earned 9,000 rupees, about $93, and one goat apiece. Cash rewards exist for man of the match, series top scorer, and best goalkeeper, but those specific awards do not come with a khassi.

NCS Maudi's captain Sachin Devam rode into the field on two-wheelers. He told Al Jazeera he would need to hire an autorickshaw to bring his prize animals home from the 10km distance. "It is our first win," he said, smiling broadly. "We will celebrate with everyone in the village. It is going to be a khassi picnic."

This year marked the fifth edition of the Rangila Star Tirilbasa tournament. Organizers claim they follow every FIFA rulebook detail. They invite popular commentators and referees certified by the state football association to keep things fair. The goal is strict adherence to guidelines so players do not get aggressive on the field. Yet, everything else differs from standard matches. The setup adapts ancient tribal traditions of the Ho community native to this Chaibasa region.

The Ho people number just over a million across India. Genetically they belong to the Austroasiatic group. They identify as tribal, or adivasi in Hindi, living deep within forests. In their own language, ho means human or people. This group calls themselves the Kolhan region of Jharkhand. That state ranks among India's poorest yet holds some of its largest coal and mineral mines.

Austroasiatic tribes like the Santhals, Ho, and Munda run traditional, religious, and sporting activities as a tight-knit community. Football events invite fellow tribal kin to celebrate their bond. For the Ho people, no celebration feels complete without the khassi. These animals serve ceremonial sacrifices during rituals. Their meat gets shared among all community members.

"Khassis are part of the prize because they are an important part of our culture," a voice explained. "Their meat is tasty, and everyone loves good mutton.

Most teams slaughter their prize animals immediately after winning, yet some organizers choose to keep the livestock and treat them as trophies. Manish Kudada, an eighteen-year-old player from Tirilbasa who helped run the event, explained this choice to Al Jazeera. He has kept a black khassi goat he won in February, though his friends joke that the animal is being fattened up for a feast. These goats are highly prized specifically for their meat quality. You can spot them everywhere in Chaibasa, especially during weekly Tuesday markets where a single baby goat costs up to 8,000 rupees or roughly $83.

Raj Keshri, the goalkeeper for Tirilbasa and another tournament organizer, told reporters that celebrations feel half-hearted without khassi meat. Even if wedding hosts serve double the amount of chicken, the villagers will still be upset if no goat is present. That reality led organizers to offer cash alongside goats as prizes. Players can keep their money, but with the animals they gain a way to celebrate victory with the entire village community.

The Ho people practice what they call the Munda-Manki governance system under which hereditary heads uphold all social, legal and customary rights for residents. Their tribal codes and customs take precedence over the Indian government's panchayat or police systems in many matters. The Rangila Star Tirilbasa tournament operates at the ek munda level where team members must belong to the same village. Instead of eleven players, each squad has nine, with at least six required from that single village to qualify. Organizers say this rule is strictly followed to reinforce a deep sense of unity among the athletes.

The rules of play have also been modified for these local matches. There is no offside rule, and players are free to score from anywhere on the field. Sudarshan Tiu, who plays for Galubasa FC, told Al Jazeera that this setup provides an opportunity for players from small villages who never get a chance to qualify in open tournaments dominated by seasoned pros. Suvir Kumar Tanti travels widely across the Kolhan region during the monsoon football season when most men return home for cultivation and agricultural festivals. His high-pitched lyrical play-by-play commentary boomed through loudspeakers at finals held on Friday, helping spectators track fast-paced action on the pitch.

The tournament reflects the culture of the Ho community while prizes made of goats make it even more unique. Very few tournaments in the region follow this tradition and prefer professional events with trophies and medals as rewards instead. Commentator Tanti explained that the event offers entertainment for villagers who pour into grounds throughout the day to squat by field sides or find places on trees. Nearby food stalls sell fried dough balls, potato chops, yellow peas, and hooch while men sit in circles taking breaks between matches to drink madia. Locals say this fermented rice beer helps them stay cool in hot humid weather during afternoon games.

In evenings after matches men also play a rooster-catching game where spectators can bet their money on outcomes. Keshri explained the spirit behind the tournament's eccentric name, Rangila Star Tirilbasa, to reporters who asked about its meaning. He said the name embodies village identity because rangila or colorful signifies enthusiasm for doing something unique while star represents talent. Through this football tournament they hope Tirilbasa will become a ground for local talent across the region. The tribal-dominated state of Jharkhand has been a sports powerhouse for decades despite these small-town realities.

Chaibasa has birthed globally-awarded field hockey players and athletes. The most famous among them is Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India's former cricket captain. State government grants help local clubs like Rangila Star flourish, sparking a rise in football talent. Many of these groups, including Rangila, also run tournaments for female teams.

But until more than ten years ago, Chaibasa did not appear on the sporting map at all. Situated deep within remote forests and hills, the district was cut off from mainland India by the Maoist insurgency. This tribal-led armed revolt targeted the Indian state over large-scale forest felling and land sales to private mining corporations.

Government forces only regained control of Chaibasa in 2011. Yet until last year, private vehicles avoided driving on roads crossing the district after dark. Commercial buses ran strictly from 4am to 4pm, and the region remained on the government's list of "sensitive areas."

In March this year, India's Home Minister Amit Shah declared the end of the armed Maoist rebellion. This shift followed a series of top commanders being killed or arrested by security forces in Jharkhand and surrounding states, mainly Chhattisgarh. As violence faded, Chaibasa transformed into a busy town. Shops selling pizza, burgers, and laptops appeared alongside offices and warehouses for mining companies extracting coal and iron ore. Christian missionary schools and colleges are dotted across the region, offering educational opportunities to tribal people.

Sporting activities thrive here too. Chaibasa is fast emerging as a football hot spot, producing players like female midfielder and forward Malati Munda. Munda found national fame through local tournaments before playing in league matches in Kolkata, West Bengal's capital, where the sport is extremely popular.

"I had no coach to guide me or provide training," Munda told Al Jazeera. "No one had even heard about me. After coming to Chaibasa town for higher studies, I met several brothers and sisters who taught me and improved my game." The weekly local tournaments gave her experience and skills to improve her play. They also brought rewards. "I have played at several such games where we won cash," she said with a laugh. "And yes, khassi as well."

Munda currently plays for the Home Guard paramilitary in Ranchi, Jharkhand's capital city. This route many players from poorer families take to secure a government job in India. Harish Hembram from Chaibasa began his career as a football content creator by covering local matches and uploading their videos on social media. His YouTube channel today has more than 211,000 subscribers, and he livestreams key matches across Jharkhand.

"Football has always been popular in the villages," Hembram said. "Many like me would attend matches at different venues. I started uploading the videos for fun for those fans who couldn't attend. But soon the videos clocked high viewership, and I started my YouTube channel. Now organisers call me to cover their tournaments." He earns about 20,000 rupees ($208) a month through his YouTube channel alone. Hembram has moved to Ranchi, where he also opened a sports shop selling football gear, jerseys, shoes, and other accessories. Many players from Chaibasa visit his shop.

The grassroots football culture in Chaibasa defies the stereotype that India is not a football country. Sandeep Menon, author of Sacred Grounds: A Journey Through People's Football in India, says he has discovered and documented a football subculture across the nation. He noted that while India does not figure prominently on the global football map, the love for the sport within the country is unparalleled. At the grassroots level, football is played with great interest across the country.

Everyone tweaks the rules to fit local space, weather, and social needs, according to Menon speaking with Al Jazeera. He noted that small village events like Rangila Star Tirilbasa draw in young athletes seeking a shot at overnight fame. Menon explained that playing for one's home village carries deep emotional weight. For many players on the field, football defines their sense of self and fuels their pride.