1975 – 2025

50 years with Gothia Cup

50 years is a long time. A time that holds so much development, so many events.
From the first year’s 275 teams, a great success, to today’s approximately 1,900 teams. From eight countries to today’s 80.
From 10 gravel fields to 120 grass and artificial turf fields. 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the Gothia Cup.
We will, of course, celebrate this.

Crowd-teams

It started in 1984 with Tahuichi from Bolivia. Thousands of spectators discovered both Gothia Cup and the ball juggling magic of the Bolivian players. The crowd stood in triple rows around the gravel fields at Heden.

In recent years, the crowd favorite has been Right to Dream from Ghana. Their matches draw up to 10,000 spectators at the temporary SKF Arena at Heden.

The Opening Ceremony

Those who watched the Opening Ceremony in 1975, where all teams marched behind their country signs up Avenyn to Götaplatsen, could never in their wildest dreams have imagined today’s Opening Ceremony at Ullevi Stadium in front of over 50,000 spectators.

The fields

The first year we used 10 gravel fields. The transition to grass fields, even for youth teams, accelerated in the 1980's. 1995 was the first year with only grass fields.

Today, 120 fields are used, all on grass or artificial turf.