Extremely significant tournament in the AFT calendar this autumn will be the prestigious international youth tournament Ilinden Cup 2026, which will be held from September 11 to 13 in North Macedonia, in the municipality of Ilinden near Skopje. The tournament is organized by the Grozdanoski football school in collaboration with the local community, and during previous editions, it has grown into one of the most prestigious gatherings of young footballers in this part of Europe. This edition of the tournament carries the
Grand Tour rank, making it particularly important in the AFT points system.
Ilinden Cup is an international tournament that brings together youth academies from various European countries, providing young players with the opportunity to develop their football skills and gain valuable international experience through quality matches and strong competition. The tournament is traditionally played in multiple age categories, with adapted game formats for younger selections, ensuring a dynamic and attractive competition for all participants. This year, over 230 teams are expected to compete on as many as 14 mini-pitches.
Top academies have already confirmed participation
This year's edition particularly attracts attention due to the impressive list of participants. Renowned European academies and clubs such as Anderlecht, Dinamo Zagreb, Crvena zvezda, Partizan, Beşiktaş, FCSB, CSKA Sofia, Vardar, Beerschot, Malmö and many others are coming to Skopje, which guarantees an exceptionally high-quality tournament and matches at a high level in all categories. The presence of such clubs confirms that Ilinden Cup strengthens its international reputation year after year and attracts an increasing number of elite football schools.
Matches will be played on quality pitches in the municipality of Ilinden and the wider Skopje area, and the organizers are striving to provide all teams with professional conditions, quality accommodation, and infrastructure, so that the tournament takes place in a true sporting atmosphere.
The significance of Ilinden Cup in the AFT calendar
The tournament from the Grand Tour (series 100) offers a maximum of 100 AFT points to the winner, while all teams that reach the final stage, starting from the round of 16, also earn points according to the AFT ranking rules.
All this guarantees that Ilinden Cup 2016 will once again be a true celebration of youth football, a place where young talents will have the opportunity to showcase their skills, and football enthusiasts will enjoy the clash of some of the most renowned European academies.
