Auckland International Football Club

**Welcome Only Ballers** to the Auckland International Youth Elite Invitational Cup 2026**

We are delighted to officially welcome Only Ballers to the
2026 Auckland International Youth Elite Invitational Cup.

As one of New Zealand’s premier international youth football events, this tournament brings together elite academy teams from multiple countries and provides all players with a global stage to showcase their abilities, exchange cultures, and experience high-quality football competition.

Only Ballers recently won the U10 division of the Auckland APL League, demonstrating outstanding training standards and strong competitive ability. We believe their participation will bring positive and powerful challenges to every team in this tournament, further elevating the excitement and competitiveness of the event.

We look forward to seeing Only Ballers’ players express their talent, challenge themselves, and grow alongside top teams from around the world on this international stage.

Welcome to Auckland. Welcome to the international stage.
Let’s create something unforgettable — together.

✨ We are proud to announce that Remarkable Gifts has officially become an official sponsor of the 2026 Auckland International Youth Elite Invitational Tournament!

Remarkable Gifts is one of New Zealand’s most recognisable premium retail brands,
with flagship stores located in two iconic destinations —
Queen Street in Auckland and the world-famous tourism hub Queenstown.

Their partnership is not just sponsorship —
it represents trust, shared vision, and co-creation.

Remarkable Gifts will not only serve as the back-of-shirt partner for AIFC,
but will continue to support our club values, player development journey,
and the ongoing growth of this international tournament.

Their involvement reflects a commitment to youth development, community impact,
and confidence in the future of New Zealand football.

We deeply appreciate their belief in our club, our competition,
and — most importantly — in the young people whose dreams are fuelled by opportunity.

We look forward to walking this journey alongside Remarkable Gifts,
creating long-lasting value for football, families, and our community.

Together we move forward — for youth, for football, and for the future of New Zealand.

Based in Auckland, Patagonia FC is a youth football academy dedicated to developing players aged 5–16 through technical skill-building, tactical training, and mental conditioning.

With their structured programs across all youth age groups — from beginners to advanced players — Patagonia FC brings fresh energy, passion, and a commitment to growth to the tournament.
We can’t wait to see how Patagonia FC perform in the 2026 Carters Auckland International Youth Elite Cup. Their presence raises the bar for youth competition — adding more depth, diversity and excitement to the event. ⚽✨

🎯 A few tournament spots are still available — we warmly welcome more teams to join and experience New Zealand’s premier youth football competition, competing against professional academies and clubs from around the world!

Another strong team joins the battle!
We are excited to welcome Cockle Bay FC to the Auckland International Youth Elite Invitational Cup!

Born out of friendship and a shared love for the game, Cockle Bay FC has grown organically into a tight-knit team built on passion, commitment, and true football culture. Earlier this year, they entered their first tournament in Albany — and proudly came away champions. This milestone reflects not only the quality of their football but also the strong identity they’ve created together.

Now, they’re ready for a new challenge.
We can’t wait to see their talented players light up the pitch, bring their energy to the tournament, and test themselves against some of the best youth teams in New Zealand and abroad.

Let’s make this January unforgettable! ⚽️✨

🔄 TMT Model: High-quality Training → Identifying Problems in Matches → Solving Them Through Training (Training–Match–Training)
This is AIFC’s core development philosophy and the key to our continuous improvement.

U9
Players were encouraged to try different positions to help them develop a more complete and intelligent understanding of the game. Every new role is an important step in their growth.

U11
The boys followed the coaches’ training and match instructions with great discipline. From a difficult 2–1 win in the first round to a dominant 9–1 victory this week, their improvement after two months of systematic training has been clear and impressive.

U13
We controlled the entire match. Although we missed several chances against a deep defensive block, this is completely normal. Matches reveal problems; training fixes them — that’s how we grow stronger.

All three teams showed many outstanding moments, but also areas we can continue to refine.
This week’s ZOOM session and training will help the boys become even better, smarter, and more complete players.

AIFC kids — keep pushing forward! 💙⚽🔥

SunPainter Officially Becomes an
Official Supporting Partner of the
Auckland International Youth Elite Invitational Cup

The Organising Committee is proud to welcome SunPainter as an official supporting partner of this year’s tournament.

For many years, SunPainter has been deeply committed to the community, providing consistent and meaningful support to youth development across New Zealand. Since our shared journey to Korea with AIFC, our partnership has grown into a strong and genuine friendship.

This collaboration represents a shared belief in one core value —
creating a more professional and internationally connected stage for young footballers.

The Organising Committee looks forward to working closely with SunPainter to continue advancing youth football in New Zealand, and to creating many memorable and inspiring moments in the years ahead.

We extend our highest respect to SunPainter for its excellence in painting and property services.

We are proud to confirm our first local New Zealand team!

As one of New Zealand’s leading football academies, The Pro Project has always been committed to the philosophy of “training like a professional.”

The academy has consistently performed at a high level across all age groups, developing many talented young players. In the 2025 Carters Auckland International Cup, they delivered an outstanding performance and spoke highly of the tournament’s quality and organisation.

Now returning for the 2026 Carters Auckland International Youth Elite Cup, the team comes back with determination, professionalism, and the ambition to challenge professional clubs from around the world — bringing even greater competitiveness and excitement to the event.

🎯 A few tournament spots are still available — we warmly welcome more teams to join and experience New Zealand’s premier youth football competition, competing against professional academies from across the globe! ⚽🌍

As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™️ 2026, Hisense has long been a steadfast supporter and active promoter of global football.

This year, Hisense officially becomes the Official Supporting Partner of the 2026 Auckland International Youth Football Elite Invitational Cup.

As one of the world’s leading technology brands, Hisense’s generous support not only demonstrates its strong recognition of the tournament’s professional standards and international influence, but also highlights its firm commitment to advancing global youth football development.

This partnership fully reflects Hisense’s ongoing dedication and contribution to youth growth, community development, and the global progress of football.

We firmly believe that this is only the beginning.
Looking ahead, we will continue to work hand in hand with Hisense — a world-renowned brand — to break boundaries, create new opportunities, and turn more “impossible” dreams into reality, paving the way for the next generation of players to reach their future.

🇳🇿 Carters 2026 Auckland International Youth Elite Invitational Cup – Officially Announced!
We are delighted to announce that following the great success of the inaugural Carters Auckland International Cup 2025,
the upcoming second edition will officially be titled the:
🏆 Carters 2026 Auckland International Youth Elite Invitational Cup
This marks the second consecutive year that Carters, one of New Zealand’s most outstanding companies, has proudly supported this tournament —
a strong demonstration of their commitment to community development and youth growth.
The renewed partnership also highlights the local recognition and growing prestige of our event.
We sincerely thank Carters for their continued dedication to New Zealand’s youth and football development.
Together, let’s make January 2026 a landmark moment —
the most exciting and prestigious international youth football tournament in New Zealand!

🇰🇷Welcome Back, Suwon Samsung Bluewings!
As one of Asia’s leading youth development clubs, Suwon Samsung Bluewings has long been recognized for its systematic and professional academy structure. This year, their 18-year-old prodigy winger Park Seung-soo made a direct move from the Bluewings to Premier League side Newcastle United, once again proving the club’s outstanding strength in youth development. ⚽️🔥

As last year’s runner-up team, Suwon Samsung Bluewings will return to the 2026 Auckland International Youth Football Elite Invitational Cup — a powerful acknowledgment of the tournament’s platform and a reflection of both sides’ firm commitment to deepening future cooperation.

📅 January 2026 – See you in Auckland!
Let’s celebrate the power of Asian youth football together and create new brilliance side by side! 🌏✨

We are very pleased to announce that the defending champions of the first Carters Auckland International Cup — the powerhouse team from the Chinese Super League, Shanghai Shenhua — have officially confirmed their participation in the 2nd Auckland International Youth Football Elite Invitational Cup! 🇨🇳🏆🇳🇿

Their return is a strong recognition of the quality and brand value of this tournament.
It gives us another great opportunity to witness the performance of elite youth teams from professional international clubs.

At the same time, we are eagerly looking forward to confirming the second international team soon — and we welcome more teams from around the world to join us!

👉 Registration link:
https://aklinterfc.com/elite-invitational-cup/2026-auckland-international-youth-football-elite-invitational-cup/

⚽ Let’s make Auckland the stage for the best youth football in the Asia-Pacific! 🌏💙