The Helsinki Cup held in July is one of Europe’s biggest junior football tournaments. More than 20,000 players from around the world participate in the tournament every year. The one to be organized in the summer of 2022 is already the 47th.
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In the Helsinki Cup, which is also divided into elite, general, and amateur series, girls’ and boys’ series are played separately in the Helsinki Cup 2022.
There are separate sets for girls in different age groups, from 7 years old up to 18 years old. The boys’ series is divided into two different series, where the normal series is divided into elite and general groups. The hobby series is thus played as one’s own. There are separate elite general and hobby level series for 7-9-year-old boys.
The schedule of the Helsinki Cup mainly focuses on the matches of different series, which start with the group stage matches and culminate in the playoffs and medal games, like in the European Championships and the World Cup tournaments.
However, in addition to the games, the Helsinki Cup also organizes a lot of side programs, which are also included in the official schedules.
Monday 11.7.2022
Games start in B9-B17 series
Games start in B10H-B15H series
Tuesday 12.7.2022
Games start in B8 & G7-G9, G10-15Y, G10-14H & G18 series
A tournament parade is organized in the center of Helsinki, which starts from Senatintori square at 7.30 p.m. and ends in front of the Oodi library. During the parade, there will be a small-scale stage program.
Wednesday 13.7.2022
Games start in B7 & G10-G13E series
The Helsinki Cup disco will be held at Käpylä Urheilupuisto in the form of small festival. The festivities start at 6:30 p.m. and tickets can be bought on site for 7 euros.
Thursday 14.7.2022
Play Offs
Friday 15.7.2022
The A finals of the girls’ general and hobby series at the Töölön Pallokenttä
B finals of the girls’ series
B and C finals of the boys’ series
Saturday 16.7.2022
A finals in G10-13E & B10-B17 series, played at Töölön Pallokenttä
The Helsinki Cup matches are divided up to be played around Helsinki.
All matches are played on high-quality natural grass or artificial grass pitches, specifically designed for football use. In the immediate vicinity of all pitches, there are changing rooms and toilets, as well as water points. Most field areas also have a cafeteria.
The size of the fields is in accordance with the regulations set by the Football Association. On the artificial grass field, pre-cut borders are used for the field. As a rule, the borders painted on grass fields follow the recommendations of the Finnish Football Association.
The Helsinki Cup is a football tournament for junior players held every summer in the 28th week, which was organized for the first time in 1976. It is the third-largest junior football tournament in Europe, in which teams from many different countries participate.
Helsinki Cup Oy, whose owners are HJK and FC Honka, is responsible for organizing the tournament. Until 2011, together with Honka, Käpylän Pallo from Helsinki was the owner.
Looking back today, the first Helsinki Cup in history was quite modest. 211 teams from only five different countries participated in the first tournament. As a comparison, for example, 1320 teams from 18 different countries participated in the 2018 tournament. Regarding the participating countries, the record can be found in 2005, when there were teams from 27 different countries.
Famous Finnish athletes have participated in the tournament over the years, such as Jari Litmanen, Sami Hyypiä, Roman Eremenko, Laura Österberg Kalmari, Teemu Selänne and Saku Koivu.
Teemu Pukki, who has been scoring goals for fun in the English Premier league as well as in the Finnish national team, was seen in the stands of the tournament last year.
Are you planning to participate in the Helsinki Cup as a player, spectator, guardian, or coach? Are you also looking for accommodation during the tournament?
VALO Hotel & Work is located along excellent transport links in Helsinki’s Ruskeasuo. From here, you can easily move between the game venues and the hotel, either with your own transport or with public transport.
VALO is also a hotel where you can easily find all the services under one roof: you will sleep sweetly in our air-conditioned rooms and relax in the log saunas and pools on the top floor.
At Bistro ELO, you can savor the new, summery á la carte menu and top off a summer evening by enjoying a glass of sparkling wine on VALO’s stunning rooftop terrace.
