Seoul's first district mayor's cup soccer tournament open to general middle school students draws 376 players from 19 schools
Tournament runs Oct. 17–18 at Eoulim Soccer Field and Tancheon Flood Basin Soccer Field
Songpa-gu in Seoul will host the inaugural District Mayor's Cup Middle School Soccer Tournament over two days, Oct. 17–18.
The tournament is the first district mayor's cup soccer competition in any of Seoul's autonomous districts to be open to general middle school students — not just elite athletes. The district established the event to give young people a chance to step away from their studies, build physical fitness and develop teamwork and a spirit of challenge through sport.
Enthusiasm for the first edition is already running high. Of the 25 middle schools in the district eligible to participate, 19 have signed up, sending a combined 376 student athletes to compete.
Organizers expect the tournament to serve as an opportunity for ordinary middle school students — rather than specialized athletes — to compete directly and strengthen ties between schools.
The event is hosted by the Songpa-gu Sports Council, organized by the Songpa-gu Football Association and sponsored by Songpa-gu. Preliminary rounds will be held Saturday at Eoulim Soccer Field and Tancheon Flood Basin Soccer Field, with the finals taking place Sunday at Eoulim Soccer Field.
All matches will follow a single-elimination tournament format, with two 25-minute halves. In the event of a draw, the winner will be decided by a penalty shootout with no extra time.
Awards will be presented in two categories: team prizes for the top four finishers — champion, runner-up and two third-place teams — and six individual honors, including Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer. The district plans to station medical personnel, an ambulance and safety officers at the venues to ensure players compete safely.
Songpa-gu is working to expand residents' access to sports as part of its goal of becoming a "lifestyle sports city" where people live long, healthy lives. This year, the district is holding district mayor's cup competitions across 23 sports — including soccer, badminton and table tennis — to create an environment where any resident can enjoy sports as part of daily life.
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