Premier League International Cup 2026/27

The Premier League International Cup is a parallel youth competition established in 2014 by the Premier League. It operates outside the standard English football pyramid, running as a distinct tournament for Under-21 sides. The structure brings together 32 clubs, comprising the top 16 finishers from the domestic Premier League 2 alongside 16 invited international teams from across Europe. English participants secure their place through league standing, while overseas clubs attend by invitation only. The campaign begins with a group stage, currently configured into six groups of four teams, before narrowing to single-leg knockout quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final. There is no mechanism for promotion or relegation within the competition itself. It serves as a high-level development platform for young players, particularly those at English clubs excluded from the UEFA Youth League due to their senior team’s status. The PLIC is contested exclusively on English soil, offering elite youth development matches that differ from the domestic EFL Trophy, which mixes lower-league senior sides with youth teams. Notable past champions include Manchester City, Porto, and Nottingham Forest. The tournament underwent a suspension between 2020 and 2022 due to the global pandemic. Current participants in the 2026 season include Sunderland U21, Reading FC U21, Benfica B, and others, reflecting the ongoing international scope of the event.