50th anniversary!

Next summer, Gothia Cup will celebrate its 50th anniversary – five decades of joy, development, and events, where thousands of young football players from all over the world have met, competed, and formed lifelong friendships.

Since the first edition in 1975, Gothia Cup has not just been a football tournament – it has been a unique meeting place where youths from all over the world come together to play, dream, and create memories for life. What started as an experiment with 275 teams from five nations has grown into an international meeting place, with 1911 teams from 72 nations participating in 2024 – and has attracted over one million young athletes from 147 countries.

Over these 50 years, Gothia Cup has not only grown in the number of participants – it has also become a place where unforgettable memories are made. In 1984, we got an early glimpse of the tournament's potential when Tahuichi from Bolivia made their mark on Gothia Cup for the first time. Their matches on the gravel pitches at Heden attracted crowds in triple rows and created an atmosphere that would never be forgotten.

In recent years, a new crowd favorite has emerged – Right to Dream from Ghana. Their passion, skill, and commitment have made their matches some of the most spectacular at Gothia Cup, and they often draw thousands of spectators to the temporary SKF Arena at Heden, where up to 10 000 people cheer on their journey to victory.

With 50 years of incredible history behind us, and many more moments of football, culture, and community ahead, Gothia Cup continues to be a place where dreams are born and lifelong friendships are forged between nations.