Challenge Cup Paredes

At a glance

An international youth football tournament held during the Easter period in Paredes, northern Portugal.

In the 2026 edition, 157 teams from 8 countries played 268 matches at 14 grounds.

Boys only: U9–U12 play 7-a-side and U13, U15 and U17 play 11-a-side.

Approved by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), with official referees at every match.

The 2027 tournament is scheduled to run for four days, from March 24 to 27.

About the tournament

The Challenge Cup Paredes is an international youth football tournament held during the Easter period in Paredes, northern Portugal. In the 2026 edition, 157 teams from 8 countries played 268 matches at 14 grounds, and around 2,500 players came to Paredes. It is approved by the Portuguese Football Federation, with official referees at every match, and each team is guaranteed at least 5 matches.

Details

The Challenge Cup Paredes is an international youth football tournament held during the Easter period in Paredes, northern Portugal. It is run by the Portuguese company Challenge Cup Tournaments (legal name Had an Idea - Consulting, Lda.) and co-organized with Paredes City Council. It is approved by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), with official referees at every match; in the 2026 edition, 157 teams from 8 countries played 268 matches at 14 grounds. 📅 Tournament dates · The 2027 tournament is scheduled to run for four days, from Wednesday, March 24 to Saturday, March 27. · When posting these dates on the official website, the organizers noted that they are "not yet confirmed". It is advisable to check again before taking part. · The 2026 edition was held from Wednesday, April 1 to Saturday, April 4. All five editions have followed the same pattern, starting on the Wednesday before Easter and ending on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. 📍 Venues · The main ground is the Estádio Municipal das Laranjeiras in central Paredes. · Several other grounds in and around Paredes are also used. · In the 2026 edition, 14 grounds were used. ⚽ Divisions · 7-a-side: U9, U10, U11, U12 · 11-a-side: U13, U15, U17 · Boys only. The organizers state that divisions and birth years are not final for each edition, so check with them before registering. 🏆 Teams · According to the official registration system for the 2026 edition, 157 teams played 268 matches in 6 divisions. · Counting the countries in the published list of participating teams gives 8 countries: Portugal 107 teams, Spain 10, the UK 3, France 3, Italy 2, Canada 1, Sweden 1 and Ireland 1. · Paredes City Council announced that around 2,500 players from 8 countries took part in the same edition. ⏱ Format · Every team is guaranteed at least 5 matches. · Arrival and the opening ceremony are on the first day, group matches on the second and third days, and semifinals on the morning of the fourth day followed by finals in the early afternoon. · The finals are streamed online. 🏟 Organization · The tournament is approved by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), with official referees at every match. · Accommodation is 3 nights at a hotel or local school with full board, including liability insurance and sports injury insurance. · Teams using the organizers' transport are assigned a hotel; teams arriving with their own transport can choose their hotel. · On the first day, teams are welcomed at Paredes train station, and an opening parade sets off from in front of Paredes City Hall. 🌊 About the area · Paredes is a town in northern Portugal, in the district of Porto, known for the Monastery of Cête on the Romanesque Route and the Senhora do Salto gorge on the Sousa River. · Porto, Guimarães and Braga are nearby, so visitors can also see the Ribeira on the Douro riverside, Guimarães Castle and Bom Jesus do Monte. Sightseeing is separate from the tournament program.

How to enter

Applications for the Challenge Cup Paredes are taken through the team registration form on the official website. After the form is sent, the organizers contact the club by email to confirm the division, accommodation and number of people; participation is only confirmed after the organizers have checked the details. 1. Open the form under the Team registration menu on the official website challengecuptournaments.com. You can also enquire directly by email at sales@challengecuptournaments.com. 2. Enter the club name, the contact person's name and email, and their role in the club (coach, staff, president, etc.). 3. Choose the number of teams and, for each team, enter the tournament (Paredes or Algarve), division, contact details, type of accommodation (school, hotel or local team), number of players and number of accompanying family members. 4. Once the form is sent, the organizers review it and reply by email. Participation is confirmed after the organizers' check. 5. You can also request a phone consultation at a scheduled time. Consultations are available Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 19:00 Lisbon time. 6. Divisions, birth years and tournament dates are announced as not yet final for each edition, so check them again with the organizers before completing registration. 📌 Application steps in brief · How to apply: team registration form on the official website, email sales@challengecuptournaments.com, phone +351 934 740 541 · Entry fee: the amount is not published on the official website; it is communicated by the organizers after you apply · Accommodation: 3 nights at a hotel or local school with full board, including liability insurance and sports injury insurance · Guaranteed matches: at least 5 per team · Approval: tournament approved by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF)

At a glance

Venue

About the tournament

Details

How to enter

Photos

Contact