The largest community -based grassroots tournament in Nigeria, 1X Cup tournament is scheduled to kickoff on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at the Inspire Sports Centre, Kappa, Oshodi, Lagos.
A total of 100 top teams carefully drawn from the five Lagos State Football Association Divisions – namely: Epe, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Ikorodu and Badagry will begin the quest to determine who wins the ultimate prize of twenty million naira.
The 2026 edition of the competition like in the previous years, will present fresh pathways for young talented grassroot players to be scouted, nurtured and mentored for European opportunities like trials and direct contracts to begin their professional football careers abroad.
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The opening day of the tournament promises plenty of spectacle with four matches billed to be played to headline Day 1 of the tournament.
Technical director of 1X Cup tournament, Engr. Waidi Akanni has expressed satisfaction with their preparedness for the competition urging teams to be of good conduct and shun any act of indiscipline through out the period of the tournament as unprofessional behaviours would not be tolerated by the Local
Organising Committee, LOC.
Meanwhile, July 23 to September 4 will see teams jostle in the Qualification Round for opportunity to advance to the Group stage which the draw will be held on September 11, while matches in the Group phase will run from September 15 to October 8, to be preceded by the Knockout stage which begins from October 15 to October 27. The grand finale will be held October 31 to draw the curtains on the 2026 edition of the 1X Cup tournament.
