African Chipkizi Cup

At a glance

The Chipkizi Cup is an international youth football tournament held in Arusha, Tanzania, from 7 to 13 December 2026.

It began in 2009 and reaches its 17th edition in 2026; in 2024, 302 teams and more than 4,500 players took part.

Nine categories are held in total: boys U7 to U20, and girls U15 and U20.

Matches are split by age group across several venues in Arusha, including TGT Fields and international school pitches.

After the group stage, the top two teams in each group advance to the knockout rounds, and every team plays at least 4 matches.

About the tournament

The Chipkizi Cup is an international youth football tournament held every December in Arusha, Tanzania. It has been run since 2009 by the local organization Future Stars Academy and has become a tournament where youth teams from across East Africa come together. Alongside football, sports such as basketball, swimming and chess are also held.

Details

The Chipkizi Cup is an international youth football tournament held in Arusha, Tanzania. The organizers describe it as the largest youth football tournament in East and Central Africa. It has been run since 2009 by the local organization Future Stars Academy (Future Stars Academy Tanzania), and the 2026 tournament is the 17th edition. 📅 Dates The organizers have announced that the 2026 tournament will run for seven days, from 7 to 13 December. In the previous edition, U17 and U20 started first, and U7 to U15 were played over the final few days. 📍 Venues Matches are split by age group across several pitches in Arusha. The venues listed by the organizers are: · TGT Fields (Tanganyika Game Trackers) · Braeburn International School Arusha · Aga Khan University grounds · UWCEA (former ISM Arusha campus) · St. Constantine's International School · FSA Center The organizers state that all the hotels they recommend are within 30 minutes of the venues. ⚽ Categories · Boys U7, U9, U11, U13, U15, U17, U20 · Girls U15, U20 Age eligibility is based on year of birth. Under the previous edition's rules, U7 was for players born in 2017 or later and U20 for players born in 2004 or later. In U20, each team may register up to three players who are over 20 and under 24. 🏆 Teams The tournament centres on East African teams from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and elsewhere, but teams from other African countries may also take part. Past editions also included teams from Zanzibar, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and Somalia. According to the organizers' figures, in 2019 168 teams and around 2,200 players played more than 410 matches on 14 pitches; in 2023 there were 347 teams and about 4,430 players; and in 2024, 302 teams and more than 4,500 players took part. In 2024 a team from the United Arab Emirates also came from outside Africa, and the 2025 tournament was run with participation capped at 330 teams. ⏱ Match format Based on the previous edition's rules: · Boys U20 and U17 — two 45-minute halves · Boys U15, Girls U15 — two 25-minute halves · Boys U13 and U11 — two 20-minute halves · Boys U7 and U9 — two 15-minute halves · Girls U20 — two 45-minute halves In the group stage, four or five teams form a group, and the top two in each group advance to the knockout rounds. The remaining teams play in a plate competition, and every team plays at least 4 matches. From U7 to U15, unlimited substitutions can be made during stoppages; U17 and U20 allow up to five substitutions per match. 🏟 Organization The organizers do not book accommodation on teams' behalf. They provide a list of partner hotels, and teams contact and book them directly, with options ranging from budget guesthouses to 4-star hotels. No shuttle runs to and from the venues, so most teams hire their own buses. To travel from Nairobi to Arusha, scheduled shuttle buses such as Impala Shuttle or Rainbow Shuttle can be used; in the previous edition the one-way fare was around 25,000~30,000 Tanzanian shillings per person. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to enter Tanzania, so it is advisable to arrange it before departure. 🌊 About the area Arusha is the gateway city to Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti and the hub of tourism in northern Tanzania. The organizers recommend Arusha National Park and the Snake Park as places worth visiting.

How to enter

Entry to the Chipkizi Cup starts with completing the online application form. The organizer, Future Stars Academy, also accepts forms that are downloaded and sent by email. 1. Confirm your category Decide which age category the team will enter. Boys' categories run from U7 to U20; girls' categories are U15 and U20. 2. Submit the application Complete the online form on the official website, or download the form and send it to futurestarsacademytanzania@gmail.com. The postal address is Future Stars Academy, P.O. Box 13961, Arusha, Tanzania. 3. Pay the entry fee The entry fee must be paid in advance, and a team is added to the tournament schedule only after payment is complete. Registration closes about two weeks before the tournament starts. In the previous edition, Tanzanian teams paid 400,000 Tanzanian shillings (about USD 162) before the deadline and 450,000 shillings (about USD 182) after it, while international teams paid USD 200 before the deadline and USD 230 after it. The fees for the 2026 tournament have not yet been published on the official website. 4. Payment You can choose between cash payment at the FSA office in Arusha, bank transfer to an NMB Bank account, or M-Pesa. 5. Submit player documents Submit the team registration documents, player ID photos and documents that confirm age. Birth certificates or ID cards are used, and international teams submit passports. 6. Arrange accommodation and transport The organizers do not book accommodation. Teams receive a list of partner hotels and book directly, and also arrange their own vehicles to the venues. 📌 Entry process summary · The order is: confirm category → submit application → pay entry fee in advance → payment → submit documents → arrange accommodation and transport. · The entry fee differs before and after the deadline, and the 2026 fees have not yet been published. · Teams arrange their own accommodation and vehicles. · A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to enter Tanzania. · For enquiries, contact info@futurestarsacademy.org or +255 757 139 868.

At a glance

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About the tournament

Details

How to enter

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