The 2026 Namdaecheon Renaissance Cup National Youth Soccer Tournament will be held June 13-14 at three venues in Gangwon Province — Yangyang General Stadium, the Yangyang Sports Town soccer field and the Hajodae soccer field.
Organized by the Yangyang-gun Sports Council and co-hosted by Yangyang-gun and the Yangyang Football Association, the tournament aims to promote camaraderie among young players and strengthen ties among soccer enthusiasts nationwide.
Yangyang-gun said it plans to use the event to raise the profile of its "Global Platform Yangyang" brand through sports marketing and inject fresh energy into the local economy.
This year's tournament will draw 54 of the country's top youth soccer clubs, with roughly 1,500 players and officials traveling to Yangyang. The competition is divided into five age groups: seven teams in the U-8 (under-8) category, 19 in U-9 (under-9), 16 in U-10 (under-10), six in U-11 (under-11) and six in U-12 (under-12).
Match formats vary by age group to prioritize player safety and maximize playing time. The U-8 and U-9 divisions will use six-a-side rules, while U-10 through U-12 will play eight-a-side. All matches consist of two 20-minute halves. Preliminary rounds will follow a cross-matching format, with the final stage decided by knockout.
The tournament will not feature official rankings or a formal awards ceremony. Instead, all participating players will receive trophies, soccer balls and cleats as commemorative gifts to recognize their effort and growth.
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