DIALI Inter Cup
One day. Twelve clubs. Five countries. Belgium's newest international pre-season tournament for elite and development U15/U17 academies — where ambition meets opportunity.
One day. Eight teams. Five countries.
An international pre-season tournament for elite and development U15/U17 academies — where ambition meets opportunity.
About the Tournament
Where Elite Meets Ambition
The DIALI International Youth Tournament is a one-day pre-season football competition bringing together elite academies and high-level development clubs from Belgium and neighbouring countries. Planned for 8 August 2026 in Antwerp, it is designed to fill the critical pre-season window before official competitions begin.
More than a football tournament — it is a platform. Every game is recorded. Every performance is visible to scouts from professional clubs attending on the day. For non-elite players, this is a rare opportunity to be seen alongside elite competition.
The tournament is part of DIALI vzw's Sport for Solidarity programme, developed in collaboration with the European Solidarity Corps.
Tournament Format
How It Works
01
2 Groups of 4 Teams
8 teams split into Group A and Group B — 4 teams each. Every team plays a round-robin within their group: 3 guaranteed matches in the morning session.
02
Semi-Finals
The top 2 teams from each group advance to the semi-finals. SF1: 1st Group A vs 2nd Group B. SF2: 1st Group B vs 2nd Group A.
03
3rd Place Play-off
The 2 semi-final losers play each other to determine 3rd place. Played simultaneously with the 5th place play-off in the afternoon.
5th Place Play-off
The 3rd place finishers from Group A and Group B compete in a play-off to determine 5th and 6th place — no team finishes without a final match.
Match Duration
20 minutes per match — 2 halves of 10 minutes each. Stopped clock rule: the clock pauses every time the ball goes out of play, ensuring a full 20 minutes of pure football.
Match Officials
Certified referees assigned across both pitches throughout the day.
Day Schedule
8 August 2026
09:00
Gates Open & Team Arrival
Registration, changing rooms open, warm-up available. Club liaisons welcomed by DIALI staff. Squad lists verified.
10:00
Opening Ceremony & First Kick-Off
Official opening, flag parade, simultaneous first matches begin on both pitches.
10:00–13:30
Group Stage — Morning Session
All 12 group stage matches played across both pitches. Each team plays 3 matches of 20 minutes (2×10 min, stopped clock). Every team guaranteed 3 games before break.
13:30–14:30
Lunch Break & Group Stage Results
Catering available on site. Group standings confirmed. Semi-final and play-off matchups announced. Bracket displayed at both pitches.
14:30
Semi-Finals (Simultaneous)
Pitch 1: 1st Group A vs 2nd Group B · Pitch 2: 1st Group B vs 2nd Group A. 20 minutes each (stopped clock). Penalty shootout if level.
15:15
5th Place Play-off & 3rd Place Play-off (Simultaneous)
Pitch 1: 3rd Group A vs 3rd Group B (5th place play-off) · Pitch 2: Semi-final Loser 1 vs Semi-final Loser 2 (3rd place play-off).
16:30
🏆 DIALI Cup Grand Final
Both pitches cleared. Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2. All spectators and scouts gathered for the showpiece match of the tournament.
17:30–18:00
Awards Ceremony
Trophy presentation, Player of the Tournament, Best XI, Fair Play Award. Official close of the 1st DIALI International Youth Tournament.
Participating Countries
5 Countries. One Tournament.
🇧🇪Belgium - Confirmed
🇳🇱Netherlands - In Talks
🇫🇷France - In Talks
🇩🇪Germany - Outreach
🇱🇺Luxembourg - Outreach
Tournament Venue
Park Groot Schijn
Address 📍
Ruggeveldlaan 488, 2100 Deurne, Antwerp, Belgium
Pitches ⚽
2 full-size outdoor natural grass pitches available simultaneously throughout the day.
Facilities 🚿
Changing rooms with showers included for all teams. Additional changing rooms available on request
Getting There 🚌
15 minutes from Antwerp Central Station by bus. Parking available on site for team buses and coaches.