SuperCupNI set for blockbuster return as Man Utd, Liverpool and Rangers headline packed 2026 fixtures

Northern Ireland is preparing for one of its biggest weeks of youth sport of the year after the full fixture list for the 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI was officially unveiled — bringing Manchester United, Liverpool, Rangers, Celtic, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland back to pitches across the north this summer.

More than 1,200 young players from across Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East will descend on the Causeway Coast and Glens, Mid and East Antrim, and Antrim and Newtownabbey for six days of elite international football competition.

The tournament, now in its 43rd year, runs from Sunday 26 July to Friday 31 July and will feature more than 150 fixtures involving 64 Boys’ and Girls’ teams competing at venues throughout Northern Ireland.

This year’s competition is widely expected to be one of the strongest line-ups in recent memory, with globally recognised academies and international youth sides set to test local County and club teams on home soil.

Major clubs set for headline clashes across Northern Ireland

Among the standout fixtures already attracting major attention is the Boys’ Premier Section clash between seven-time champions Manchester United and Rangers at Coleraine Showgrounds on Tuesday 28 July.

Defending Premier champions Southampton will also face Mexican side Tigres UANL in what is expected to be one of the tournament’s marquee encounters.

There is also huge anticipation surrounding Sunderland’s return to the competition for the first time in 27 years, with the Black Cats drawn against County Armagh, County Fermanagh and Japanese side Kamimura Gakuen.

Local football supporters across Ballymena, Broughshane, Coleraine, Ballyclare, Limavady, Bushmills and surrounding areas are expected to turn out in significant numbers throughout tournament week, with fixtures spread across community venues and stadiums across the region.

The Boys’ Junior Section also promises several high-profile encounters, including Celtic taking on Blackburn Rovers and County Antrim, while Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United and West Ham United will all face local County opposition during the group stages.

Liverpool and Manchester United to meet in Girls’ Premier Section

One of the week’s biggest attractions in the Girls’ competition will see Liverpool make their long-awaited tournament debut before facing Manchester United in a headline fixture at Dixon Park, Ballyclare on Tuesday 28 July.

Defending Girls’ Junior champions Manchester United will begin their title defence against Linfield, while Aston Villa, Shamrock Rovers and Northern Ireland are all set for major fixtures during the week-long tournament.

The Girls’ Finals Day will take place at Dixon Park on Thursday 30 July, while the Boys’ Finals Day returns to Coleraine Showgrounds on Friday 31 July, culminating with the prestigious Boys’ Premier Cup Final.

The tournament will officially begin with the traditional Welcome Parade and Opening Ceremony in Coleraine on Sunday 26 July before competitive action gets underway across all venues the following morning.

International line-up underlines tournament’s global stature

Teams travelling to Northern Ireland this year include clubs and academies from England, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Japan, Mexico, the United States, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates.

Tournament organisers say the scale and diversity of the line-up reflects the continued international reputation of the SuperCupNI as one of the world’s leading youth football tournaments.

Sam Gamble, Tournament Coordinator at the Budget Energy SuperCupNI, said the fixture launch marks a major milestone ahead of the summer competition.

He said:

“The release of the fixtures always marks a major date in the diary in the countdown to the competition and there is a real sense of excitement building around this year’s tournament.

“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.

“One of the things that continues to make the tournament so unique is the opportunity it gives local players to test themselves against some of the best academies in world football on home soil.

“The international diversity across this year’s competition is exceptional and we are looking forward to welcoming players, coaches, families and supporters from across the globe to Northern Ireland for what promises to be another outstanding week.

“There are some fantastic fixtures across every section and we know supporters across the host councils will once again create an incredible atmosphere throughout tournament week.”

Key fixtures set to draw major crowds

Some of the standout fixtures from the opening three days include:

• Manchester United v Rangers — Boys’ Premier Section — Coleraine Showgrounds — Tuesday 28 July, 7:30pm

• Liverpool v Manchester United — Girls’ Premier Section — Dixon Park, Ballyclare — Tuesday 28 July, 7:30pm

• Manchester United v County Antrim — Boys’ Premier Section — Riada Stadium — Wednesday 29 July, 7:30pm

• Sunderland v Kamimura Gakuen — Boys’ Premier Section — Parker Avenue — Monday 27 July, 5:00pm

• Celtic v Blackburn Rovers — Boys’ Junior Section — Scroggy Road — Monday 27 July, 3:00pm

• Tottenham Hotspur v County Londonderry — Boys’ Junior Section — Seahaven — Monday 27 July, 1:00pm

• Linfield v Manchester United — Girls’ Junior Section — Dixon Park — Monday 27 July, 3:30pm

• Shamrock Rovers v Aston Villa — Girls’ Premier Section — Rathcoole — Monday 27 July, 3:30pm

Tournament expected to boost local economy

The annual tournament is also expected to deliver a major economic boost for towns and businesses across the host council areas, with thousands of visiting players, coaches, families and supporters travelling to Northern Ireland during the week.

Hotels, restaurants, cafés, shops and tourism attractions across Ballymena, the Causeway Coast and wider County Antrim traditionally experience a sharp rise in visitors during tournament week.

The 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI is supported by headline partner Budget Energy alongside Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and a range of commercial partners.

2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI confirmed fixture list

Monday 27 July

Boys’ Minor Section

• Glenavon v Portadown — Anderson Park — 11:00am

• Al Jazira FC v Cliftonville — The Warren — 11:00am

• Maiden City v Ross County — Castlerock — 11:00am

• Linfield v Newell FC — Coleraine Showgrounds — 11:00am

• Rosario YC v Ballymena United — Kells — 11:00am

• Kilmarnock v Chicago City — Anderson Park — 3:00pm

• Surf Select v Blackburn Rovers — The Warren — 3:00pm

• Helsingor FC v Atlas FC — Castlerock — 3:00pm

Boys’ Junior Section

• County Fermanagh v West Ham United — The Heights — 11:00am

• Chicago City v Plymouth Argyle — Parker Avenue — 1:00pm

• Tottenham Hotspur v County Londonderry — Seahaven — 1:00pm

• County Tyrone v County Antrim — Coleraine Showgrounds — 3:00pm

• County Armagh v Leeds United — Bushmills — 3:00pm

• County Down v Helsingor FC — Riada Stadium — 3:00pm

• Celtic FC v Blackburn Rovers — Scroggy Road — 3:00pm

• St Patrick’s Athletic v Charlton Athletic — Broughshane — 3:00pm

Boys’ Premier Section

• Tigres UANL v Iconz FC — The Heights — 3:00pm

• Kamimura Gakuen v Sunderland FC — Parker Avenue — 5:00pm

• County Londonderry v Southampton FC — Seahaven — 5:00pm

• County Armagh v County Fermanagh — Bushmills — 7:00pm

• Right to Dream v Derby County FC — Broughshane — 7:00pm

• County Antrim v Rangers FC — Coleraine Showgrounds — 7:30pm

• County Tyrone v County Down — Riada Stadium — 7:30pm

• Intercontinental FA v Manchester United — Limavady Showgrounds — 7:30pm

Girls’ Junior Section

• Surf Select v Cliftonville — Chimney Corner — 12:00pm

• Crusaders v Peamount United — Monkstown — 12:00pm

• Glentoran v Kilmarnock — Rathcoole — 12:00pm

• Linfield v Manchester United — Dixon Park — 3:30pm

Girls’ Premier Section

• Manchester United v IL Heming — Chimney Corner — 3:30pm

• Desert Empire v Liverpool — Monkstown — 3:30pm

• Shamrock Rovers v Aston Villa — Rathcoole — 3:30pm

• Northern Ireland v Chicago City — Dixon Park — 7:30pm

Tuesday 28 July

Boys’ Minor Section

• Blackburn Rovers v Linfield — Anderson Park — 11:00am

• Surf Select v Newell FC — The Warren — 11:00am

• Chicago City v Glenavon — Castlerock — 11:00am

• Portadown v Kilmarnock — Kells — 11:00am

• Atlas FC v Rosario YC — Anderson Park — 3:00pm

• Cliftonville v Maiden City — The Warren — 3:00pm

• Ross County v Al Jazira FC — Castlerock — 3:00pm

• Ballymena United v Helsingor FC — Kells — 3:00pm

Boys’ Junior Section

• Helsingor FC v Leeds United — Parker Avenue — 1:00pm

• County Fermanagh v St Patrick’s Athletic — Seahaven — 1:00pm

• Blackburn Rovers v County Antrim — Riada Stadium — 1:00pm

• County Tyrone v Celtic FC — The Heights — 3:00pm

• Charlton Athletic v West Ham United — Coleraine Showgrounds — 3:00pm

• County Armagh v County Down — Bushmills — 3:00pm

• County Londonderry v Chicago City — Scroggy Road — 3:00pm

• Tottenham Hotspur v Plymouth Argyle — Broughshane — 3:00pm

Boys’ Premier Section

• Southampton FC v Iconz FC — Parker Avenue — 5:00pm

• Kamimura Gakuen v County Fermanagh — Seahaven — 5:00pm

• County Tyrone v Derby County FC — The Heights — 7:00pm

• County Down v Right to Dream — Bushmills — 7:00pm

• County Antrim v Intercontinental FA — Broughshane — 7:00pm

• Rangers FC v Manchester United — Coleraine Showgrounds — 7:30pm

• County Armagh v Sunderland FC — Riada Stadium — 7:30pm

• County Londonderry v Tigres UANL — Limavady Showgrounds — 7:30pm

Girls’ Junior Section

• Glentoran v Linfield — Chimney Corner — 12:00pm

• Manchester United v Kilmarnock — Monkstown — 12:00pm

• Cliftonville v Crusaders — Rathcoole — 12:00pm

• Surf Select v Peamount United — Dixon Park — 3:30pm

Girls’ Premier Section

• Shamrock Rovers v Chicago City — Chimney Corner — 3:30pm

• Northern Ireland v Aston Villa — Monkstown — 3:30pm

• IL Heming v Desert Empire Surf — Rathcoole — 3:30pm

• Liverpool v Manchester United — Dixon Park — 7:30pm

Wednesday 29 July

Boys’ Minor Section

• Maiden City v Al Jazira FC — Anderson Park — 11:00am

• Portadown v Chicago City — The Warren — 11:00am

• Blackburn Rovers v Newell FC — Castlerock — 11:00am

• Linfield v Surf Select — Kells — 11:00am

• Glenavon v Kilmarnock — Anderson Park — 3:00pm

• Ballymena United v Atlas FC — The Warren — 3:00pm

• Rosario YC v Helsingor FC — Castlerock — 3:00pm

• Cliftonville v Ross County — Kells — 3:00pm

Boys’ Junior Section

• Chicago City v Tottenham Hotspur — The Heights — 11:00am

• Charlton Athletic v County Fermanagh — Parker Avenue — 1:00pm

• County Down v Leeds United — Seahaven — 1:00pm

• St Patrick’s Athletic v West Ham United — Broughshane — 1:00pm

• Celtic FC v County Antrim — Coleraine Showgrounds — 3:00pm

• County Tyrone v Blackburn Rovers — Bushmills — 3:00pm

• Plymouth Argyle v County Londonderry — Riada Stadium — 3:00pm

• County Armagh v Helsingor FC — Scroggy Road — 3:00pm

Boys’ Premier Section

• Kamimura Gakuen v County Armagh — The Heights — 3:00pm

• Right to Dream v County Tyrone — Parker Avenue — 5:00pm

• Derby County FC v County Down — Seahaven — 5:00pm

• Rangers FC v Intercontinental FA — Bushmills — 7:00pm

• County Fermanagh v Sunderland FC — Broughshane — 7:00pm

• County Londonderry v Iconz FC — Coleraine Showgrounds — 7:30pm

• Manchester United v County Antrim — Riada Stadium — 7:30pm

• Tigres UANL v Southampton FC — Limavady Showgrounds — 7:30pm

Girls’ Junior Section

• Manchester United v Glentoran — Chimney Corner — 12:00pm

• Kilmarnock v Linfield — Monkstown — 12:00pm

• Crusaders v Surf Select — Rathcoole — 12:00pm

• Cliftonville v Peamount United — Dixon Park — 3:30pm

Girls’ Premier Section

• Aston Villa v Chicago City — Chimney Corner — 3:30pm

• Liverpool v IL Heming — Monkstown — 3:30pm

• Manchester United v Desert Empire Surf — Rathcoole — 3:30pm

• Shamrock Rovers v Northern Ireland — Dixon Park — 7:30pm

For more information, visit www.supercupni.com