Having first experienced the largest world youth tournament in 2014, our senior boys and girls teams created their fondest memories of club soccer, competing against some of the best teams in the world.

It has been a while since we participated in the tournament, mainly due to club constraints and the pandemic, but now we are heading back and are competing in the 2023 Gothia Cup. Further information from the club will follow. The Gothia Cup was first held in 1975. The tournament was started by the football clubs BK Häcken and GAIS and a local newspaper, since the early 80’s the tournament is owned entirely and solely by BK Häcken. The organization consists of eight full-time employed staff and during the tournament more than 2500 people work.

When it all began, no one could have imagined what the Gothia Cup, a small youth tournament, would become. It was 1975, and the concept of a tournament to which teams from abroad would also be invited was not only unique, it would also prove to be extremely successful. The old, yellowing piece of paper still exists on which we wrote down our vision for the new Gothia Cup. It states: ”The Gothia Cup shall be a meeting place for the young people of the world, regardless of color, gender or religion.” This was written in 1981 and remains the guiding principle for the organization to this day. With more than one million participants from 149 countries and with a name as the world’s biggest youth event, we can justifiably claim that we have succeeded. It’s the teams, and participants from around the world that make the tournament unique. A meeting place for the world’s youth, irrespective of religion, skin color or nationality, with football as the common denominator. General Secretary, Dennis Andersson

Through the years, over a million players from a total of 149 countries have participated in the tournament. It's more than just a tournament. Getting involved in children’s conditions other than on the football pitch and outside of Sweden, has always been an important part of the Gothia Cup. Our schools in Congo, Gothia Special Olympics Trophy and SKF’s Meet the World are an example of that.