Gothia Cup is the world’s largest and most international youth football tournament. Each year, around 1700 teams from 80 nations take part and they play 4500 games on 110 fields.

It’s the teams, and participants from around the world that make the tournament unique. A meeting place for the world’s youth, irrespective of religion, skin colour or nationality, with football as the common denominator.

Gothia Cup was first held in 1975. The tournament was started by the football associations BK Häcken, GAIS and a local newspaper but has been owned since the early 80’s entirely and solely by BK Häcken. Through the years, almost a million players from a total of 146 countries have participated in the tournament.

More Than a Football tournament
Getting involved in children’s conditions other than in the football field and outside Sweden has always been an important part in the Gothia Cup. Their schools in Congo, Kim Kallstrom Trophy and SKF’s Meet the World are an example of that.

Who may participate?
All clubs, which are members of their FIFA affiliated national association, are welcome to participate in the Gothia Cup. In countries where football is operated by the schools we also allow teams affiliated by their school football association.

The tournament begins with a group play. Teams are divided into groups of four or five teams, where all teams are playing each other once. The first and second team of the group qualify for “play-off A”, other teams in the group qualify for “play-off B”. The tournament is played under all applicable FIFA or Swedish FA rules.

2023 Age Groups: Boys: U11 to U18 - Girls: U11 to U18

Previous participating nations:
The Gothia Cup is widely regarded as the largest international youth tournament in the world. Consequently, more than 140 nations have been represented in the tournament.

Facilities:
All games are played at local facilities in and around the area, where the whole region comes together to celebrate a real festival of football. Plenty of games fill the week where you can be guaranteed to play against opposition and in matches that totally differ from what your team are used to. Each venue is equipped with changing and toilet facilities.

Matches:
Matches are streamed live online, enabling family and friends at home to watch real-time tournament progress.

*Gothia Cup operates international age groups, unlike the UK grassroots system. A member of our team will work with you to place your team in the most suitable age group based on the birth dates of your players.