English Premier League giants West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur will headline a world-class 16-team line-up in the Boys’ Junior Section at the 2025 Budget Energy SuperCupNI.
West Ham United return to the tournament this summer aiming to make history by becoming the first club ever to win three consecutive Junior Section titles following the Hammers memorable triumphs over County Antrim in 2023 and County Down in 2024.
Tottenham Hotspur will make a long-awaited return to the Budget Energy SuperCupNI after more than a decade away with the blessing of Northern Ireland legend Pat Jennings, who helped announce the tournament’s landmark three-year partnership with Budget Energy.
Scottish Premiership champions Celtic return to the tournament, alongside English Championship clubs Blackburn Rovers and Plymouth Argyle with The Pilgrims extending their proud record of over a decade of consecutive appearances at the tournament.
League One side Charlton Athletic and League Two’s Crewe Alexandra, returning after a ten-year absence, further bolster a strong English league representation.
League of Ireland giants St Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians add significant pedigree to the competition, while USA’s Chicago City SC making their eagerly awaited SuperCupNI debut.
The six Northern Ireland County teams - Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone - will be looking to make their mark on this year’s tournament, with their reputations continuing to rise.
County Antrim remains the only County side to have lifted the Junior section trophy and also reached the final again in 2023, while County Down, runners-up in 2024, will be aiming to go one better this summer.
Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Ciarán McQuillan said: "We are honoured to once again play host to such a prestigious and internationally renowned tournament within our Council area.
“This year’s Junior Section boasts a truly stellar line-up, with iconic clubs such as West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur competing alongside elite teams from across the UK, Ireland and the USA.
"To have clubs of this calibre travelling to Causeway Coast and Glens is a tremendous endorsement of the tournament’s standing on the world stage and a huge source of pride for us all.
“We look forward to welcoming players, coaches, families and fans from near and far for what promises to be another unforgettable week of football, friendship and celebration."
Now in its 42nd year, the Budget Energy SuperCupNI is firmly established as one of the world’s most prestigious youth football tournaments.
The 2025 edition will run from Sunday 27th July to Friday 1st August, featuring 62 elite Boys’ and Girls’ teams from across the globe, with more than 1,200 young players competing in over 150 matches across five age groups.
Fixtures will be staged across the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.
The Boys’ Premier, Junior and Minor Section Cup Finals will be held at The Coleraine Showgrounds on Friday 1st August and the Girls’ Premier and Junior Section Cup Finals staged at Dixon Park in Ballyclare on Thursday 31st July.
Victor Leonard, Chairperson of Budget Energy SuperCupNI, said: "Welcoming West Ham United back as they aim for a historic third successive Junior title, alongside the reappearance of Tottenham Hotspur after more than a decade, is a major coup for the tournament and a clear reflection of the global prestige the Budget Energy SuperCupNI now commands."
"To see a club of West Ham’s stature treating the Junior Section with such importance, and Tottenham’s involvement, encouraged by the endorsement of our great friend and ambassador Pat Jennings, speaks volumes about the strength of the tournament’s reputation within elite academy football.
"With so many top-class teams from England, Scotland, Ireland and the USA, alongside our own six County representative sides, the 2025 draw is certain to produce a host of blockbuster fixtures. The race for the Junior Section title promises to be one of the most fiercely contested in the tournament’s proud history."
Brian Hutchinson, Representative of Uhlsport, said: "This year’s Junior Section is shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested in the tournament’s history, with a stellar line-up featuring a who’s who of elite academies from across the UK, Ireland and the USA.
“To have clubs of the stature of West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, Celtic, Blackburn Rovers and other top academy sides involved speaks volumes about the standing the tournament commands.
"Uhlsport is proud to continue its long-standing partnership with the Budget Energy SuperCupNI and once again play our part in supporting the next generation of football talent on a truly international stage."
The 2025 Budget Energy SuperCupNI is proudly supported by headline partner Budget Energy, alongside a strong line-up of valued partners including Tourism NI, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Sterling Insurance, Creagh Concrete, Uhlsport, Clearer Water, Tesco, The Premier League, TrustFord, 247.tv and BuyTicketApp.
For more information on the Budget Energy SuperCupNI visit www.supercupni.com.
Coleraine Academy players Harry Hunt, Harry Blair and Daniel Caskey are pictured with Councillor Ciarán McQuillan, Mayor of Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council; Wilma Erskine, Director of the Budget Energy SuperCupNI; and Brian Hutchinson, representative of Uhlsport, at the Arcadia in Portrush to announce that English Premier League giants West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur will headline a world-class 16-team line-up in the Boys’ Junior Section at the 2025 Budget Energy SuperCupNI.
Coleraine Academy players Harry Hunt, Harry Blair and Daniel Caskey pictured at the Arcadia in Portrush to announce that English Premier League giants West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur will headline a world-class 16-team line-up in the Boys’ Junior Section at the 2025 Budget Energy SuperCupNI.