Elite teams set for 2025 Budget Energy SuperCupNI Girls’ Sections in Co Antrim

Northern Ireland internationals Maja and Chloe, alongside Cora and Katie from Crusaders and Luci and Ella from Larne.

A host of elite teams from across the UK, USA, and Ireland are set to converge on Antrim and Newtownabbey this summer, as the 2025 Budget Energy SuperCupNI unveils a glittering line-up for its Girls’ Premier and Junior Sections.

In what promises to be the most competitive edition to date, Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Brighton & Hove Albion will be joined by the Northern Ireland international squad and top clubs from the Republic of Ireland and the USA in a thrilling week-long tournament running from 27th July to 1st August.

The eagerly anticipated group stage draw was officially unveiled at Theatre at The Mill in Newtownabbey, hosted by Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Neil Kelly, and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Paul Dunlop.

A Premier Line-Up

Cllr Neil Kelly, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey; Manchester United Academy Coaches Hannah Mitchell and Ciaran Donnelly; and Northern Ireland internationals Maja and Chloe.

The Girls’ Premier Section sees defending champions Manchester United drawn in Group B, where they will face last year’s finalists Northern Ireland, League of Ireland giants Shamrock Rovers, and American academy side Northeast Rush.

Group A will feature Women’s Super League rivals Aston Villa and debutants Brighton & Hove Albion, alongside US outfit Surf Select and Donegal’s Finn Harps.

Councillor Neil Kelly remarked on the calibre of the competition:

“The draw has underlined just how competitive and high-quality this year’s Girls’ Sections will be. With elite teams travelling from across the UK, Ireland, Scotland and the USA, alongside outstanding local representatives, we’re set for one of the strongest and most exciting line-ups the Girls’ section has ever seen.”

He added:

“Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is incredibly proud to once again host the Girls’ tournament and we’re thrilled to welcome players, coaches and supporters from around the world to our Borough.”

Junior Section Format and Fixtures

The Girls’ Junior Section will follow a mini-league format involving six teams, each playing three fixtures. The top two sides will progress to the final at Dixon Park in Ballyclare on Thursday 31st July.

Cllr Neil Kelly, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey; Cllr Paul Dunlop, Deputy Mayor; Northern Ireland international Chloe; Cora from Crusaders; and Ella from Larne.

Fixtures kick off on Monday 28th July, with holders Surf Select facing Crusaders at Chimney Corner, while Manchester United make their Junior Section debut against Larne at Rathcoole.

The midweek schedule includes high-stakes encounters such as Manchester United vs FC America, a rematch of last year’s final between Larne and Surf Select, and Crusaders vs Kilmarnock. The final round on Wednesday could prove decisive, with Manchester United vs Crusaders and Surf Select vs Kilmarnock among the standout ties.

Raising the Bar for Girls’ Football

Victor Leonard, Chairperson of the SuperCupNI, spoke of the tournament’s rising prestige:

“The presence of global names like Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Brighton & Hove Albion in this year’s draw is a powerful statement of how far the Girls’ Sections have come. Clubs of that stature don’t just raise standards on the pitch, they generate huge excitement off it.”

He continued:

“These fixtures will attract significant crowds, and when you add in our Northern Ireland representative squad and top local sides like Crusaders and Larne, there’s a real sense of momentum heading into this year’s tournament.

“The draw highlights the rapid growth of the Girls’ sections of the tournament. It’s become one of the most exciting and dynamic parts of the Budget Energy SuperCupNI and every year we look to raise the bar for players, coaches, and supporters.”

Leonard also praised the hosting borough:

“We’re hugely grateful to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council for their continued support and first-class hosting… Their investment in facilities and their warm welcome play a vital role in delivering an unforgettable experience on and off the pitch.”

Top-Class Venues and Community Support

Cllr Neil Kelly, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey; Cllr Paul Dunlop, Deputy Mayor; Brian Hutchinson (Uhlsport); Diarmuid Dallat (Creagh Concrete); Siobhan McGuigan (Tourism NI); and Ollie Booth (Clearer Water), alongside Northern Ireland international Chloe, Cora from Crusaders, and Ella from Larne.

Now in its 42nd year, the SuperCupNI continues to draw global attention as one of the world’s premier youth football tournaments.

Matches will be played across venues in Antrim and Newtownabbey, including Cloyne Crescent (Monkstown), The Diamond (Rathcoole), Chimney Corner (Antrim), Mossley Park (Mossley), and Dixon Park (Ballyclare).

The tournament benefits from strong backing by headline sponsor Budget Energy, as well as partners including Tourism NI, The Premier League, Uhlsport, Creagh Concrete, Clearer Water, and several local councils.

A world-class line-up featuring Manchester United, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion and the Northern Ireland international squad will lead the charge in the Girls’ Premier and Junior Sections at the 2025 Budget Energy SuperCupNI.

The official group stage draw was hosted at Theatre at The Mill in Newtownabbey by Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Neil Kelly and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Paul Dunlop.

This year’s Girls’ Sections are shaping up to be among the most competitive, bringing together a dynamic blend of elite-level academies from the UK and the USA, alongside top-tier sides from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

In the Girls’ Premier Section, reigning champions Manchester United have been drawn in Group B, where they will take on Northern Ireland - the side they narrowly defeated in last year’s final - along with League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division side Shamrock Rovers and Northeast Rush from the USA.

Women’s Super League contenders Aston Villa will line up in Group A, where they are set to face fellow WSL side and tournament debutants Brighton & Hove Albion, US academy outfit Surf Select and County Donegal-based club Finn Harps.

Councillor Neil Kelly, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, said: “The draw has underlined just how competitive and high-quality this year’s Girls’ Sections will be. With elite teams travelling from across the UK, Ireland, Scotland and the USA, alongside outstanding local representatives, we’re set for one of the strongest and most exciting line-ups the Girls’ section has ever seen.”

“Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is incredibly proud to once again host the Girls’ tournament and we’re thrilled to welcome players, coaches and supporters from around the world to our Borough. We look forward to what promises to be an exceptional week of football and a truly memorable experience for everyone involved.”

In the Girls’ Junior Section, six teams will each play three fixtures in a mini-league format, with ties randomly generated by a computer. The draw has produced a highly competitive schedule, with the top two teams progressing to the final on Thursday 31st July at Dixon Park in Ballyclare.

The action gets underway on Monday 28th July, as Surf Select begin their title defence against Crusaders at Chimney Corner (Antrim), while Manchester United make their tournament debut against Larne at Rathcoole.

Tuesday’s fixtures feature Manchester United taking on FC America, Surf Select facing Larne in a rematch of last year’s final, and Crusaders taking on Kilmarnock.

The group stage concludes on Wednesday, with standout fixtures that could prove decisive in determining the finalists, including Manchester United versus Crusaders and Surf Select taking on Kilmarnock.

Victor Leonard, Chairperson of the Budget Energy SuperCupNI, said: “The presence of global names like Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Brighton & Hove Albion in this year’s draw is a powerful statement of how far the Girls’ Sections have come. Clubs of that stature don’t just raise standards on the pitch, they generate huge excitement off it.

“These fixtures will attract significant crowds, and when you add in our Northern Ireland representative squad and top local sides like Crusaders and Larne, there’s a real sense of momentum heading into this year’s tournament.

“The draw highlights the rapid growth of the Girls’ sections of the tournament. It’s become one of the most exciting and dynamic parts of the Budget Energy SuperCupNI and every year we look to raise the bar for players, coaches, and supporters.

“We’re hugely grateful to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council for their continued support and first-class hosting of the Girls’ sections of the tournament. Their investment in facilities and their warm welcome play a vital role in delivering an unforgettable experience on and off the pitch.”

Now in its 42nd year, the Budget Energy SuperCupNI is firmly established as one of the world’s most prestigious youth football tournaments and will run from Sunday 27th July to Friday 1st August.

The group stages and knockout rounds of the Girls’ Premier and Junior Sections will take place at a range of top-class facilities across Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, including Cloyne Crescent (Monkstown), The Diamond (Rathcoole), Chimney Corner (Antrim), Mossley Park (Mossley) and Dixon Park (Ballyclare).

The Girls’ Premier and Junior Section Finals will be staged at Ballyclare Comrades’ 3G pitch at Dixon Park on Thursday 31st July.

The 2025 Budget Energy SuperCupNI is proudly supported by headline partner Budget Energy, alongside a strong line-up of valued partners including Tourism NI, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Sterling Insurance, Uhlsport, Creagh Concrete, Clearer Water, Tesco, The Premier League, TrustFord, 247.tv and BuyTicketApp.

For more information on the Budget Energy SuperCupNI visit www.supercupni.com. 

2025 SuperCupNI Girls’ Sections Draw

Premier Section

Group A – Aston Villa / Brighton & Hove Albion / Surf Select / Finn Harps

Group B - Manchester United / Northern Ireland / Shamrock Rovers / Northeast Rush

Junior Section

Monday 28th July 2025

Crusaders v Surf Select – 12pm at Chimney Corner

Kilmarnock FC v FC America – 12pm at Monkstown

Manchester United v Larne FC – 12pm at Rathcoole

Tuesday 29th July 2025

Larne FC v Surf Select – 12pm at Chimney Corner

Manchester United v FC America – 12pm at Monkstown

Kilmarnock FC v Crusaders – 12pm at Mossley

Wednesday 30th July 2025

Manchester United v Crusaders – 12pm at Chimney Corner

Surf Select v Kilmarnock FC – 12pm at Rathcoole

Larne FC v FC America – 12pm at Mossley

For full details, fixtures, and updates, visit the official website: www.supercupni.com