Footballers from across the country would put their best feet forward from Sunday in their bid to clinch the Bihar Cup.

The Patliputra Art Culture and Sports Foundation would organise the tournament from March 15 to 28.

Food and consumer protection minister Shyam Rajak said: 'The matches would be held at the Moinul Haque Stadium.'

The teams include ONGC Mumbai, Nagpur Football Club, Bangalore District Football Association, State Bank of Travancore (Kerala), Border Security Force (Punjab), Sashastra Seema Bal (Northeast), Tata Football Academy (Jamshedpur), Army XI (Calcutta), Bihar Regiment Centre (Danapur) and Junior Army (Lucknow). A team from Patna is expected to be announced on Wednesday.

Rajak said talks could not materialise with the Patna District XI team as it expressed inability in playing the tournament. A team from Patna would be announced in a day or two.

The chairman of the organising committee, Rajendra Prasad Choudhary, said: 'The teams have been divided into two groups. Four teams have been given direct entry to the quarter-finals. They are ONGC, Mumbai FC, Nagpur Football Club, Bangalore District Football Association and Army XI, Calcutta. Four other teams would have to book their quarter-final berths on the basis of points in the league matches.'

The winning team would win the cup and Rs 1 lakh as prize money, while the first runner-up would win Rs 50,000. The two defeated semi-finalists would win Rs 25,000 each. The four defeated quarter-finalist teams would be provided Rs 10,000 each.

Rajak said the Indian Football Association, Calcutta, would send three match referees and one commissioner for successful completion of the tournament. The match officials would comprise five referees from the home state (Bihar).

The players would be provided accommodation at the Patliputra Sports Complex hostel. The first edition of the event was organised in 2012.