More than 380 young people from across England and Wales will head to St George’s Park National Football Centre this week to take part in the Premier League Kicks Cup national finals.
Premier League Kicks, the Premier League’s flagship community programme, celebrated its 20-year anniversary this year. Delivered by clubs across England and Wales, the programme provides free weekly football sessions and positive activity designed to engage and support young people. The Premier League Kicks Cup tournament is one of the competition elements of the programme, bringing together participants to compete and represent their clubs.
Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) will be taking part in the Under-16 mixed tournament for the chance to lift the 2026 Premier League Kicks Cup trophy. Teams will also be recognised for demonstrating respect and a positive spirit throughout the tournament, with Fair Play trophies presented by Premier League, EFL and Barclays Women's Super League match officials.
Premier League Foundation Chief Executive Alex White said: “For more than two decades, Premier League Kicks has played a vital role in opening doors for young people, using the power of football to inspire, support and connect communities across England and Wales. The programme continues to reach hundreds of thousands of participants, providing free, inclusive opportunities in the areas that need them most.
“By creating safe and welcoming environments, Premier League Kicks helps young people build confidence, develop positive relationships and feel a sense of belonging. The Premier League Kicks Cup is a powerful celebration of this impact, bringing young people together to enjoy the game, create lasting friendships and showcase their potential both on and off the pitch.”
More than 1,400 participants representing 93 professional football clubs across England and Wales took part in regional qualifying tournaments earlier this year for the chance to play at the Premier League Kicks Cup national finals at St George’s Park. CACT hosted London’s regional qualifying tournament at Sparrows Lane earlier this year, welcoming 13 clubs from across the capital to SE7.
CACT’s Premier League Kicks and Mentoring Coordinator Josh Eales said: “The Premier League Kicks Cup national finals hosted at St George’s Park are a fantastic opportunity for our young people to travel and stay outside of London, whilst also uniting with other young people through the power of football. It’s also an added bonus that the facilities at St George’s Park, the home of England’s national football teams, are world class. We are excited to represent Charlton on the national stage once again!”
Delegates from the National Police Chiefs’ Council Children and Young Persons Portfolio; Department for Culture, Media and Sport Young Futures Hubs, and the Home Office will join the Premier League and Premier League Foundation at the tournament to explore opportunities to create safer, stronger, more inclusive communities, with football at the heart of that transformation.
Alongside the on-pitch action, the Premier League Kicks Cup national finals will offer participants a range of activities designed to support creativity, wellbeing and personal development. These include a DJ workshop, the opportunity to engage with the Youth Voice Board, and a chance to see the iconic Premier League Trophy up close.
Official Premier League partners and licensees, PUMA and Topps, will also be on site, providing exclusive activations throughout the day.
To celebrate 20 years of Premier League Kicks, Premier League official ball supplier, PUMA, will gift every player a pair of football boots, alongside opportunities to win an official Premier League match ball through its PUMA vending machine. There will also be a chance for players to take part in a series of exclusive challenges and giveaways.
Topps, the League’s official trading card and sticker licensee, will host an interactive photo booth, allowing participants to create their own personalised trading card using the official Premier League Topps design. Participants will also get an exclusive first look at Topps’ new collection ahead of its launch on 6 August, offering sample promotional packs for the 2026/27 season.
Premier League Kicks began in Season 2006/07 in partnership with the Metropolitan Police with the aim of engaging and supporting young people in regular, positive and fun activity, helping to create stronger, safer, more inclusive communities.
Today, clubs work with local police forces across the country to tackle issues affecting young people, with regular sessions taking place in high-need areas. Club charities also provide additional year-round support through the Premier League Kicks programme including mentoring, life skills and access to opportunities such as volunteering and social action projects to aid personal development.
Since it began, more than 600,000 young people have participated in Premier League Kicks football and multi-sport sessions delivered by 93 Premier League, EFL and National League sides. More than one million hours of sessions have been delivered since launch.
To date, the Premier League has invested more than £96million in Premier League Kicks through the Premier League Foundation, with a further £30million committed over the next three years.
Visit premierleague.com for more information.