Ayia Napa Soccer Fest

At a glance

An international youth football festival held for six days, from 24 to 29 April 2027, in Ayia Napa, Cyprus.

A youth football event that started in 2001.

According to the organizers, more than 400 teams and more than 5,000 players from 15 countries gather each year.

22 age categories, from 5-a-side to 11-a-side, play on 16 natural grass pitches in Kokkines.

Foreign teams take part through the organizers' official participation and accommodation package, which includes airport transfers and all meals.

About the tournament

The McDonald's Ayia Napa International Youth Soccer Festival is an international youth football festival held in Ayia Napa, Cyprus. It started in 2001. There are 22 age categories from 5-a-side to 11-a-side, plus three separate girls' categories: U11, U13 and U15. According to the organizers, more than 400 teams and more than 5,000 players take part each year, and teams from the Middle East and North Africa, such as Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt, regularly take part, which is unusual for a European tournament.

Details

The McDonald's Ayia Napa International Youth Soccer Festival is an international youth football festival held every spring in Ayia Napa, Cyprus. It started in 2001. It is sanctioned by the Cyprus Football Association and run by Soccerworldcyprus, with annual support from the Municipality of Ayia Napa and the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism. 📅 Dates · The festival runs for six days, from Saturday 24 April to Thursday 29 April 2027, with different start dates by category. The grassroots categories start on 24 April, the girls' categories on 25 April, and the 11-a-side youth categories on 26 April. · The organizers have already announced the 2028 festival for 8-13 April and the 2029 festival for 31 March-5 April. 📍 Venue · Matches are played at the sports facilities in the Kokkines area run by the Municipality of Ayia Napa, which have 16 well-maintained natural grass pitches. · The venue is easy to reach from nearby hotels and the town center. ✈️ Airport transfers · The organizers' official participation and accommodation package includes free transfers between the airport and the accommodation and between the accommodation and the pitches. · Flights are not included in the package and must be arranged separately. ⚽ Categories · The organizers state that there are 22 age categories in total. · The grassroots edition is divided into a single-level open category for players born in 2021 and two levels, A (elite) and B, for players born 2020-2014. · Players born 2020-2018 play 5-a-side (two 20-minute halves), those born 2017-2016 play 7-a-side (two 25-minute halves), and those born 2015-2014 play 9-a-side (two 25-minute halves). · The youth (11-a-side) edition has five categories for players born from 2014 to 2010, with two 30-minute halves. · There are three girls' categories: U15 9-a-side, U13 7-a-side and U11 5-a-side. · Girls can be registered on boys' teams without limit and may play up to one age group older. 🏆 Teams · According to the organizers' promotional materials, on average more than 400 age-group teams and more than 5,000 players from 15 countries take part each year, with more than 1,000 matches played. · In addition to Cyprus and Greece, teams from the United Kingdom, Poland, the Czech Republic, Malta, Romania, Finland, Denmark, Armenia, Serbia, Portugal, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Botswana have taken part. · Places per category are 12 teams for level A (2 groups of 6), 40 teams for level B (8 groups of 5), and 10 teams for the open category for players born in 2021. ⏱ Match format · Special goal kick rules apply in the 7-a-side and 5-a-side categories. Goal kicks may only be taken after the opposing team has retreated behind the halfway line, and the ball is in play only once it leaves the penalty area and reaches a teammate in their own half. The same applies when the goalkeeper releases the ball during play, and back passes may not be handled. · Players registered at level A may not drop down to play at level B. Conversely, players registered at level B may also play for a level A team if they are registered with that team in the online system. 🏟 Organization · Foreign teams can only take part through the organizers' official participation and accommodation package or a contracted official agent. · Accommodation is in 3-star hotels or hotel apartments in the Ayia Napa and Protaras tourist areas, 5-15 minutes by bus from the pitches and town center. Rooms are for 3-4 people, and single and double rooms carry an extra charge. · The package includes all meals and use of hotel facilities; groups of more than 25 people receive one free double room, and participation medals for players and a participation trophy for each team are provided. · The finals are broadcast on local television, and about 90 referees and 200 volunteers and staff support the festival. 🌊 About the area · Ayia Napa is a beach resort in south-eastern Cyprus, and the Kokkines pitches sit on a hill overlooking the town and the beach. · The organizers estimate that about 25,000 visitors come to the area during the festival.

How to enter

Teams register for the McDonald's Ayia Napa International Youth Soccer Festival through the online registration system on the official website. Registration for the 2027 festival has been open since 1 August 2026. Please note that foreign teams can only take part through the organizers' official participation and accommodation package or through a contracted official agent. 1. Submit the online application form on the official website by Monday 15 March 2027. This step is mandatory. 2. After you submit the form, a confirmation email is sent and the system for registering players by age category and level opens. 3. Pay a deposit of at least 150 euros per age category, according to the quote, by Monday 22 March 2027 to confirm participation. This deposit counts toward the team registration fee and is deducted from the balance. 4. Categories without a deposit are excluded from the group draw on Friday 26 March 2027. 5. Pay the registration fee in full by Wednesday 14 April 2027. 6. When booking a package including accommodation, pay 30% of the total quote as a down payment, and pay the balance so that it reaches the organizers' account at least 10 days before arrival at the accommodation. 📌 Registration summary · Online application (15 March) → Deposit of 150 euros per category (22 March) → Group draw (26 March) → Full registration fee (14 April) → Accommodation balance (10 days before arrival) · Team registration fees for boys are 300 euros for 5-a-side, 400 euros for 7-a-side, 450 euros for 9-a-side and 600 euros for 11-a-side; for girls, 200 euros for 5-a-side, 250 euros for 7-a-side and 300 euros for 9-a-side. The same amounts apply to all levels A, B and C. · With the participation and accommodation package, the team registration fee is included in the package and is not charged separately. However, the player registration fee of 30 euros per player (plus VAT) is not included in the package and must be paid separately. · Team cancellations are not allowed after the registration deposit is paid, and down payments and balances paid for registration, entry and accommodation are non-refundable. · There is no limit on the number of players per team, and players who will play for two or more teams must be registered on all of those team lists. · Enquiries can be made by email at soccerworldcyprus@cytanet.com.cy or by phone at +357 99596166 or +357 23744708.

At a glance

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About the tournament

Details

How to enter

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