NatChamps
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador will host the U-17 Cup at the upcoming 2026 National Championships. A proven host with a welcoming community and historic soccer pitch, St. John’s Soccer Club has been selected as one of Canada Soccer’s 2026 hosts for its annual national amateur competitions.
“Canada Soccer is proud to announce St. John’s as one of our host cities for our upcoming 2026 National Championships,” said Peter Augruso, Canada Soccer President. “As part of our Youth Competitions Network, the U-17 Cup showcases Canada Soccer’s commitment to delivering inclusive, high-quality national amateur competitions from coast to coast to coast across the country. Through the commitment of local organisers, volunteers, and community partners, we’re excited for St. John’s to deliver a meaningful experience for players, coaches, officials, and families, while creating lasting sport and community legacies that extend well beyond the competition week.”
As Canada’s most accessible sport, soccer welcomes more than 750,000 registered players across the nation. This past year alone, 580 youth teams took part in qualifying for the National Championships in the U-17 and U-15 age groups for both boys and girls. From that group, 12 youth teams qualified in each of the four divisions, with each host venue hosting 24 qualified teams across the week-long event heading into the Canadian Finals on Thanksgiving Monday.
“We are thrilled to welcome some of Canada’s top youth soccer talent to St. John’s for the National Championships U-17 Cup in 2026,” said the Honourable Andrea Barbour, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation. “This is an incredible opportunity to showcase our province’s vibrant culture, breathtaking landscapes, and warm hospitality to athletes, families, and fans from across the country. Supporting this event, through Celebrate NL, reflects our commitment to growing sport tourism and creating unforgettable experiences for visitors while contributing to the growth of soccer in Canada.”
King George V Park
The 2026 National Championships will bring together qualified teams from 6-12 October with the U-17 Cup Finals to be played Thanksgiving Monday 12 October at historic King George V Park. This marks the first time since 2015 that St. John’s will host Canada Soccer’s Youth National Championships, although it was just this past year that the city hosted both the Canada Games for youth provincial/territorial all-star teams as well as the National Championships for the Challenge Trophy and Jubilee Trophy.
“The St. John’s Soccer Club, in partnership with Celebrate NL, is proud to host the U-17 Cup for the 2026 National Championships,” said Brian Murphy, President of the St. John’s Soccer Club. “We are excited to bring Canada’s top U-17 talent to the region with matches scheduled in St. John’s, Mount Pearl and Conception Bay South.”
“Hosting a prestigious event like the National Championships is a massive milestone, not just for St. John’s Soccer Club, but for the entire province and the NLSA,” said Chris Bartlett, President of the Newfoundland & Labrador Soccer Association. “This opportunity means we get to showcase the incredible passion and dedication within our soccer community to the rest of Canada. For our young athletes, it provides an invaluable experience – a chance to compete at the highest national level on home soil, which is an unparalleled motivator and development tool. Beyond the pitch, the National Championships create a powerful legacy of new volunteers, better facilities, and increased excitement, helping us to secure a bright and prosperous future for our beautiful game across the province.”
As part of the Youth Competitions Network, an enhanced schedule for the Youth National Championships was introduced in 2025 whereby each division now features 12 qualified teams. Group matches are played Wednesday through Friday followed by knockout and playoff matches from Saturday through Monday. Each host welcomes the qualified teams to their community with a unique Opening Ceremony, friendly volunteers at each of the competition venues, transportation to and from the team hotels, and a Finals Day atmosphere whereby all teams are in attendance for the Canadian Finals.
Canada Soccer’s National Championships are hosted each October across multiple divisions and venues, with other host cities to be announced in the coming months. As Canada Soccer’s largest national event featuring clubs from coast to coast to coast, the National Championships provide a meaningful week-long soccer experience for host cities and participating teams, as well as the players, coaches, support staff, officials, and volunteers.
This past year, the final week of the U-17 Cup brought together 447 players and 102 coaches/staff from 24 qualified teams who came from 10 different provinces. The national competition also supported 34 match officials across the 52 competitive matches including the four medal matches played on Finals Day.
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