The EFL and Utilita launch new season of the Utilita Kids & Girls Cup
For more than 21,000 school children, the dream of playing at the home of English football, Wembley Stadium suddenly feels closer.
The EFL and Utilita have launched a new season of the Kids and Girls Cup, one of the country’s biggest junior football tournaments. This gives ambitious footballers the opportunity to represent their local club on the national stage.
The Utilita Kids & Girls Cup are national tournaments for young football players, which offer children the ultimate once in a lifetime experience to play at Wembley. A huge number of aspiring footballers from across 2,500 schools will take part in this season’s competitions, in which they will represent seventy-two EFL Clubs across England and Wales.
With several big names in football: Adam Wharton, Ellie Roebuck and Kayla Rendall, to name a few, having participated in the competition’s final ahead of becoming professionals, this is another step in the right direction for the growth of the game. Young footballers, both male and female, are encouraged to follow their dreams and compete for the opportunity of a lifetime.
Launching the 2025/26 competition
This year's amazing launch event took place at Southampton’s Staplewood Training Ground where EFL legend, Glenn Murray was joined alongside content creators, Harriet Pavlou and Ben Nuttall. The trio led a lively afternoon of skill sessions and a friendly game of ‘Wembley Doubles’ which gave young players a glimpse of what their time at Wembley could feel like, should they be successful in the competition.
Former members of Utilita inspire the younger generation. The organisation is pivotal in sparking young people’s ambitions in football. Glenn Murray spoke about anchoring this event:
“It's amazing to be back with the Utilita Kids & Girls Cup, this competition is really special. I remember playing games like Wembley Doubles when I was their age and dreaming about stepping out at Wembley one day. Being here today and seeing these kids full of energy and excitement brings that all back.”
The Girls Cup will progress through local and regional rounds, with two schools ultimately earning the chance to represent their EFL club in front of thousands of fans at Wembley in the final; this will take place on Sunday 12th April 2026.
On the other hand, participants in the Kids Cup will compete in their own local and regional stages before representing one of the seventy-two EFL clubs across the three divisions. The regional winners will walk out under the arch ahead of the EFL Play-Off Finals.
Inspiring a brighter future
Beyond the excitement of the competition itself, the Girls Cup plays a growing role in the development of women’s football in England. By giving girls access to elite environments, visibility on a national stage and contact with professional clubs at an early age, this is essential in giving exposure to the women’s game. The tournament helps build confidence and inspire girls to see an equal future for themselves in football.
The competition has a strong reputation for helping players take their first steps towards a career in football. Inspirations who featured in the tournament before establishing themselves at professional and international level include Jamal Musiala, Adam Wharton, Scott McTominay, Ellie Roebuck, and Kayla Rendall. Now performing at the highest level, including the Premier League and Barclays Women’s Super League, these players are role models to the next generation, igniting their love for the sport.
Overall, The Utilita Kids & Girls Cup is significant for younger players in the game and builds their self-confidence and future ambitions. The organisation gives young talent an opportunity to represent themselves on the biggest stage, where they are exposed to their potential future in football.