Thousands line the streets of Coleraine as the former Premier League captain officially opens the 43rd Budget Energy SuperCupNI ahead of six days of world-class youth football.
Thousands of players, families and supporters lined the streets of Coleraine on Sunday evening as Northern Ireland football legend Chris Brunt officially opened the 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI, marking the start of the 43rd edition of one of the world’s premier international youth football tournaments.
The former West Bromwich Albion captain led the tournament’s traditional Welcome Parade through the town before declaring the competition officially open at a packed Coleraine Showgrounds, where more than 5,000 players, coaches, officials and supporters gathered ahead of the opening round of fixtures on Monday.
Running until Friday 31 July, the 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI will bring together 64 boys’ and girls’ teams from across the UK, Ireland, Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa for six days of elite international youth football.
More than 1,200 players will compete in over 150 fixtures across Causeway Coast and Glens, Mid and East Antrim, and Antrim and Newtownabbey, while in excess of 55,000 spectators are expected to attend throughout tournament week.
Brunt’s association with the Budget Energy SuperCupNI stretches back more than two decades. He represented Northern Ireland in the Elite Section in 2003 as part of a talented squad that also featured future internationals Steven Davis, Michael McGovern, Dean Shiels and Sammy Clingan.
That year’s tournament saw Northern Ireland face a Brazil side featuring future Manchester City captain Fernandinho, underlining the calibre of players the competition has attracted throughout its 43-year history.
After competing in the tournament, Brunt progressed through Middlesbrough’s Academy before making his senior breakthrough with Sheffield Wednesday. He went on to spend 13 seasons with West Bromwich Albion, making more than 420 appearances and captaining the club in the Premier League.
The midfielder won 65 senior caps for Northern Ireland, helped Michael O’Neill’s side qualify for UEFA Euro 2016 and has remained involved in the professional game since retiring in 2021 through his coaching and player development role at West Bromwich Albion.
Speaking after officially opening the tournament, Brunt said: “It was a real privilege to officially open this year’s Budget Energy SuperCupNI and to see another fantastic tournament get underway.
“Representing Northern Ireland in the Elite Section back in 2003 remains one of the highlights of my early career. At the time you’re just focused on playing football, but when you look back you realise how special the experience was and how fortunate you were to be part of a tournament with such a fantastic reputation.
“The quality of teams taking part this week is exceptional and that’s reflected in the number of players who have gone on to enjoy careers at the very highest level. Every player here has the chance to test themselves against outstanding opposition from different countries and different footballing cultures, and that’s something very few youth tournaments can offer.
“Whether these players go on to play professionally or not, they’ll leave this week with memories they’ll keep for the rest of their lives. My advice would be to enjoy every minute, represent your club, county or country with pride and make the most of every opportunity because weeks like this don’t come around very often.”
As another week of international youth football gets underway, Northern Ireland’s leading County representative teams and local academies will once again test themselves against many of the world’s leading youth academies.
Among this year’s international field are Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers, Celtic, Southampton, Sunderland, Leeds United and West Ham United, alongside leading teams from Mexico, Japan, Denmark, the United States, Ghana and the UAE.
The Girls’ Tournament continues to attract an outstanding field, with Manchester United, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Shamrock Rovers, Kilmarnock and the Northern Ireland national team competing across the Junior and Premier Sections.
The tournament concludes with the Girls’ Cup Finals at Dixon Park, Ballyclare, on Thursday 30 July before the Boys’ Cup Finals are staged at Coleraine Showgrounds on Friday 31 July.
Sam Gamble, Tournament Co-ordinator of the Budget Energy SuperCupNI, said: “The Welcome Parade and Opening Ceremony is always one of the highlights of tournament week. It’s the first time every team comes together and you can really feel the excitement around the town as players, coaches and families prepare for the week ahead.
“Chris Brunt was the perfect person to officially open this year’s tournament. He experienced the Budget Energy SuperCupNI as a Northern Ireland player before going on to captain a Premier League club and represent his country at the highest level. His career shows our young players what’s possible, and we’re grateful he could be here to share that experience with them.
“The football over the next six days will be of an incredibly high standard, but what has always made this tournament different is the opportunity it gives young people to represent their club, county or country, experience different cultures and create friendships that last well beyond the final whistle.
“We’re proud to welcome thousands of visitors from around the world to Northern Ireland once again. The tournament is only possible because of the commitment of our volunteers, partners, sponsors, host councils and local communities, and we’d like to thank every one of them for the part they play in making the Budget Energy SuperCupNI such a special occasion.”
Ken O’Byrne Managing Director of Flogas Ireland and Budget Energy, said: “The Welcome Parade and Opening Ceremony are one of the defining traditions of the Budget Energy SuperCupNI. Bringing together thousands of players, coaches, families and supporters from across Northern Ireland and around the world is a wonderful way to begin the tournament and reflects everything that makes this week so special.
“For more than four decades, the Budget Energy SuperCupNI has earned its reputation as one of the world’s leading international youth football tournaments. It gives young players the opportunity to represent their clubs, counties and countries with pride, test themselves against some of the best young talent in the game and create memories that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
“At Budget Energy, we’re proud to support a tournament that has become part of the sporting calendar for so many families. Seeing young players from across the world come together to compete, make new friendships and enjoy the experience is exactly what the Budget Energy SuperCupNI is all about.
“We hope everyone involved enjoys a fantastic week and wish every player, coach, official and volunteer every success throughout the tournament.”
The 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI is proudly supported by headline partner Budget Energy, alongside a valued network of partners including 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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Russell Lever
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