The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Grace Ui Niallais, pictured at Thursday’s 2026 O’Neills Foyle Cup launch in the North West Regional College. Included at back from left, John Murphy, O’Neills, Diolain Ward, Foyle Cup and Michael Duffy, Derry City, special guest. At front are some of the young footballers from Foyle Harps FC. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography)
THE O’Neills Foyle Cup will make history this summer after organisers confirmed that a record 1,013 boys and girls teams will compete in the 2026 tournament, marking the first time the competition has surpassed the 1,000-team barrier in its 34-year history.
The milestone was unveiled at the tournament launch and group stage draw, where Derry City FC captain Michael Duffy helped kick-start the countdown to what promises to be the biggest O’Neills Foyle Cup ever staged.
From humble beginnings in 1992, when just eight teams participated in a one-day competition, the tournament has grown into one of Europe’s leading youth football events, attracting elite academies and grassroots clubs from across Ireland, the United Kingdom, Europe and North America.
The 2026 tournament will take place from Monday 20th to Saturday 25th July and is expected to welcome more than 20,000 players, coaches and officials to the North West across boys’, girls’ and disability categories from Under-8 through to Under-19 level.
Matches will take place at more than 60 venues throughout Derry/Londonderry, Strabane, Limavady, Claudy, Greysteel, Coleraine, Dungiven, Castledawson, Inishowen and Donegal.
The increase in participation means a record 3,942 matches will be played across the six-day tournament, representing more than 191,000 minutes of football and further cementing the competition’s reputation as one of the largest youth football tournaments anywhere in Europe.
Crowds in excess of 200,000 spectators are expected during tournament week, delivering a significant boost to the regional economy through tourism, hospitality, retail and visitor spending.
The official launch also saw the completion of the 2026 group stage draw across all boys’, girls’ and disability categories, setting the stage for another week of elite competition and unforgettable experiences for thousands of young footballers.
Speaking at the launch, Michael Duffy said: “The Foyle Cup holds a special place in my heart because I was fortunate enough to experience it first-hand as a young player growing up in Derry.
“Some of my best football memories were made at the tournament. It gave me the opportunity to represent my club, test myself against different teams and players, and experience a level of competition that helped shape my journey in the game.
“To see the tournament now welcoming more than 1,000 teams is an incredible achievement and a reflection of the vision, commitment and hard work that has gone into building it over the past three decades.
“It has grown into one of the premier youth football tournaments anywhere in Europe and is something the entire North West can be immensely proud of.
“The success of the Foyle Cup is also a testament to people like Gerry ‘Doc’ Doherty, who dedicated so much of his life to developing young players and creating opportunities for generations of footballers across this region.
“Doc had a huge influence on my own football journey and on the careers of countless others. His legacy lives on through every young player who takes part in this tournament and I think everyone connected with the Foyle Cup can take great pride in seeing it continue to grow while staying true to the values he championed.”
The launch event also featured video messages from First Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly MLA, both of whom praised the O’Neills Foyle Cup’s remarkable growth and the positive impact it continues to have on young people, communities and the wider North West region.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA said: “The O’Neills Foyle Cup has grown into one of the biggest and most respected youth football tournaments on this island and that is something everyone involved can be incredibly proud of.
“The tournament brings together thousands of young people from different places, backgrounds and cultures through a shared love of football, while also providing a fantastic opportunity to showcase the North West to teams and families from across Ireland and beyond.
“I would like to thank the organisers, volunteers and sponsors who continue to make the tournament possible each year and wish every player, coach and supporter a fantastic and memorable O’Neills Foyle Cup.”
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly MLA said: “The O’Neills Foyle Cup is rightly recognised as one of the premier youth football tournaments and it is fantastic to see it continue to grow year after year.
“From its beginnings in 1992 with just eight teams, the tournament has grown into a truly international event that provides young players with an invaluable opportunity to showcase their talent and pursue their sporting ambitions.
“It is particularly encouraging to see teams from across Europe and beyond taking part, reflecting the reputation the Foyle Cup has built over more than three decades.
“I would like to pay tribute to the organisers, sponsors and volunteers whose dedication and hard work continue to make the tournament possible, and I wish every player, coach and supporter every success for what promises to be another outstanding O’Neills Foyle Cup.”
This year’s draw brought together clubs from across Ireland, the United Kingdom, Europe and North America, underlining the tournament’s growing international reputation.
Diolain Ward, Secretary of the O’Neills Foyle Cup, said: “Tonight’s draw marks another important milestone in our preparations for what promises to be the biggest O’Neills Foyle Cup in the tournament’s history.
“The fact that more than 1,000 teams have chosen to be part of this year’s tournament speaks volumes about the reputation the Foyle Cup has built both at home and internationally.
“From local grassroots clubs to some of the most respected youth academies in the game, the diversity of teams involved is something we are immensely proud of.
“For one week each summer, the North West becomes a meeting place for young people from across Ireland, the UK, Europe and North America, united by a shared love of football.
“We now look forward to welcoming players, coaches, families and supporters to the region this July for what promises to be another unforgettable week of football.”
Beyond the football itself, the tournament has become one of the North West’s most significant annual sporting events, delivering substantial economic, tourism and community benefits for the region.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Grace Uí Niallais, said: “The O’Neills Foyle Cup is one of the defining events in our annual calendar and a source of enormous pride for Derry, Strabane and the wider North West.
“What began as a local youth football tournament has grown into a truly international event that attracts thousands of players, coaches, families and supporters from across the world to our region each summer.
“Beyond the football itself, the tournament delivers significant economic benefits, supports tourism and provides an invaluable opportunity to showcase the very best of our city, district and wider region to an international audience.
“Reaching the milestone of more than 1,000 teams is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the dedication of the organisers, volunteers, sponsors and partners who have helped build the Foyle Cup into one of Europe’s leading youth football tournaments.
“We are proud to support an event that continues to inspire young people, create lasting memories and bring communities together while remaining true to the values of participation, inclusion and opportunity that have been at its heart for more than three decades.”
The tournament’s continued growth has been supported by title partner O’Neills Sportswear, which recently committed to a seventh consecutive year backing the competition.
Since first becoming title partner in 2019, Ireland’s largest sportswear manufacturer has played an important role in the tournament’s expansion and rising international profile, helping cement the O’Neills Foyle Cup’s reputation as one of Europe’s leading youth football events.
John Murphy of O’Neills Sportswear said: “O’Neills is incredibly proud of its association with the Foyle Cup and the role we have played in supporting the tournament’s continued growth over the past seven years.
“To see the competition surpass the 1,000-team mark for the first time is a remarkable achievement and a reflection of the vision, commitment and hard work of everyone involved in delivering the tournament year after year.
“The Foyle Cup has earned a reputation as one of Europe’s leading youth football events, providing unforgettable experiences for young players while showcasing the very best of the North West to visitors from around the world.
“Today’s draw is always a special moment because it signals the real start of the countdown to tournament week, and with a record 1,013 teams set to take part, there is a genuine sense of excitement about what promises to be another landmark year for the competition.”
The 2026 O’Neills Foyle Cup is supported by a valued network of partners and sponsors including Derry City & Strabane District Council, Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council, O’Neills Sportswear, Derry Credit Union, Choice Housing, Seagate, Inner City Trust, Brunswick Moviebowl, Ulster University and North West Regional College.
For more information on the O’Neills Foyle Cup visit: www.foylecup.com
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