Northern Ireland set for blockbuster week of youth football as countdown begins to 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI
The fixtures for the 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI have officially been unveiled, with Northern Ireland preparing to welcome some of the biggest names in world football.
Manchester United, Liverpool, Rangers, Celtic, Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland, Southampton and Aston Villa are among the global giants confirmed for this year’s tournament as the countdown begins to the 43rd edition of one of the world’s most prestigious youth football competitions.
Taking place from Sunday, July26 to Friday, July 31, the 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI will once again bring together 64 Boys’ and Girls’ teams from across Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East.
Over six days of competition, more than 1,200 players will compete across over 150 fixtures staged throughout Causeway Coast and Glens, Mid and East Antrim, and Antrim and Newtownabbey.
Northern Ireland’s leading County and club sides will once again test themselves against some of the most respected academies in the global game, with this year’s tournament featuring one of the strongest international line-ups in recent memory.
Elite clubs and academies from England, Scotland, Ireland, Mexico, Japan, Denmark, the United States, Ghana and the UAE are all set to compete across the Boys’ and Girls’ Sections.
The opening stages of the competition have already thrown up a number of standout fixtures across every section, with supporters set for a packed week of world-class football throughout the host councils.
In the Boys’ Premier Section, seven-time champions Manchester United face Rangers in a blockbuster clash at Coleraine Showgrounds, while defending champions Southampton take on Mexican side Tigres UANL in one of the week’s standout match-ups.
There is also huge anticipation surrounding Sunderland’s return to the competition for the first time in 27 years, with the Black Cats set to face County Armagh, County Fermanagh and Japanese side Kamimura Gakuen.
The Boys’ Junior Section promises further high-quality encounters, with Celtic facing Blackburn Rovers and County Antrim, while Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United and West Ham United all take on local County opposition during the group stages.
In the Girls’ Premier Section, Liverpool will make their long-awaited tournament debut and face Manchester United in a marquee fixture at Dixon Park, Ballyclare.
Defending Girls’ Junior champions Manchester United also begin their title defence against Linfield, while Aston Villa, Shamrock Rovers and Northern Ireland are all set for major fixtures throughout the week.
The tournament will officially begin with the traditional Welcome Parade and Opening Ceremony in Coleraine on Sunday, July 26, before competitive fixtures commence across all venues from Monday morning.
The Girls’ Finals Day will take place at Dixon Park, Ballyclare on Thursday, July 30, while the Boys’ Finals Day returns to Coleraine Showgrounds on Friday, July 31, culminating with the prestigious Boys’ Premier Cup Final.
Sam Gamble, Tournament Coordinator at the Budget Energy SuperCupNI, said: “When you look across the schedule and see clubs such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Rangers, Celtic, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Sunderland competing alongside outstanding local County and club teams, it underlines the global stature and quality of the Budget Energy SuperCupNI.”
For more information on the Budget Energy SuperCupNI, visit www.supercupni.com