Gyeongju to host 2026 Hwarangdaegi National Youth Football Tournament

The 2026 Hwarangdaegi National Youth Football Tournament is set to take place in Gyeongju, South Korea, from August 28 to September 12. Organized by the Korea Football Association and hosted by Gyeongju City, this year's event marks its 23rd iteration and is expected to be one of the largest youth football competitions in the country.

A record-breaking 789 teams and approximately 15,000 players from various schools and clubs will participate, competing in over 2,300 matches. The tournament will be held in two stages: the first week from August 28 to September 3, and the second week from September 6 to September 12.

Gyeongju City has invested 2 billion won to upgrade facilities, including replacing artificial turf at several football parks and repairing natural grass at the municipal stadium. To protect young athletes from extreme heat, the city has rescheduled the tournament to late August and implemented safety measures such as cooling breaks, cooling fog systems, and avoiding midday match schedules.

Beyond the sporting competition, the event is expected to provide a significant boost to the local economy. Last year's tournament was estimated to have generated approximately 62.9 billion won in economic impact through increased demand for local accommodation and dining services.