Borough to host Opening Ceremony, Boys’ Finals Day and more than 100 matches as thousands of visitors arrive for six days of world-class youth football
Thousands of players, coaches, officials, families and supporters from across the globe will descend on Causeway Coast and Glens next week as the Borough once again hosts the internationally renowned Budget Energy SuperCupNI.
From Sunday 26th to Friday 31st July, the Borough will host the Welcome Parade and Opening Ceremony in Coleraine, along with the majority of Boys’ Section fixtures and the prestigious Boys’ Cup Finals at Coleraine Showgrounds, welcoming some of the world’s biggest football clubs and academies for six days of elite international competition.
Now in its 43rd year, the Budget Energy SuperCupNI will bring together 64 Boys’ and Girls’ teams from Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
More than 1,200 players will compete in over 150 matches, with Manchester United, Liverpool, Rangers, Celtic, Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland, Southampton and Aston Villa among the elite academies travelling to Northern Ireland alongside leading County representative teams and international opposition from Mexico, Japan, Denmark, the United States, Ghana and the UAE.
While matches will be played across all three host council areas, Causeway Coast and Glens will once again host many of the tournament’s biggest occasions, staging more than 100 fixtures and welcoming thousands of visitors throughout tournament week.
From Coleraine Showgrounds to community venues across Ballymoney, Bushmills, Castlerock, Limavady, Portstewart and Portrush, the tournament will bring world-class youth football to communities across the Borough while showcasing Causeway Coast and Glens to an international audience.
For more than four decades, the Budget Energy SuperCupNI has become woven into the fabric of the Borough, creating lasting memories for generations of players, volunteers, supporters and local communities.
It also provides a significant boost to the local economy, with hotels, restaurants, cafés, visitor attractions and local businesses welcoming thousands of visitors during one of the busiest weeks of the summer.
The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Dawn Huggins, said:
“The Budget Energy SuperCupNI has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading youth football tournaments and we are delighted to once again welcome it to Causeway Coast and Glens for its 43rd year.
“Hosting an event of this scale is a privilege for the Borough. Every summer, it brings thousands of players, coaches, families and supporters from across the world, giving us the opportunity to showcase not only world-class football, but also the warmth of our welcome, our renowned hospitality and the outstanding coastline, attractions and experiences that make Causeway Coast and Glens such a special place to visit.
“The tournament creates a fantastic atmosphere across our towns and villages and provides a valuable boost for local businesses, accommodation providers, restaurants, cafés and visitor attractions. It is one of the flagship events in our annual programme and something our communities look forward to every year.
“We are proud to continue supporting the Budget Energy SuperCupNI and look forward to welcoming everyone to Causeway Coast and Glens for what promises to be another memorable week of football.”
The 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI officially begins with the Welcome Parade and Opening Ceremony in Coleraine on Sunday 26th July before six days of elite international youth football culminate with the prestigious Boys’ Cup Finals at Coleraine Showgrounds on Friday 31st July.
Sam Gamble, Tournament Coordinator of the Budget Energy SuperCupNI, said:
“Causeway Coast and Glens has been central to the Budget Energy SuperCupNI for more than 40 years and we’re proud to once again bring the tournament back to the Borough.
“The continued support of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has been fundamental to the success of the tournament. An event of this scale simply wouldn’t be possible without that partnership.
“It’s about far more than financial support: it’s the facilities, the infrastructure, the planning and the commitment of Council officers throughout the year that allow us to deliver the tournament to the standard that clubs, players and supporters have come to expect.
“Many of the tournament’s defining moments take place here, from the Welcome Parade and Opening Ceremony to the Boys’ Cup Finals at Coleraine Showgrounds. But when teams head home, it’s often the people they met, the places they visited and the welcome they received that stay with them long after the football has finished. That’s a real credit to the communities, volunteers and everyone across Causeway Coast and Glens who helps make the tournament such a special experience.
“The Budget Energy SuperCupNI has always been about more than football. It creates opportunities for young people, brings communities together and showcases Northern Ireland to visitors from around the world. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back later this month for another memorable week.”
The 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI is proudly supported by headline partner Budget Energy, alongside Tourism NI, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Sterling Insurance, Creagh Concrete, Uhlsport, KLIR, IDS Accountants, Tesco, The Premier League, TrustFord, 247.tv and BuyTicketApp.
For more information on the Budget Energy SuperCupNI, visit www.supercupni.com.
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For further information please contact:
AY.
Russell Lever
Mob: 07841676976
Email: russell@ay.studio
