The Gothia World Youth Cup is the World Cup of youth football and offers players and spectators an unforgettable experience both on and off the pitch!
For parents, it is also a trip of a lifetime!
Accommodation
We recommend booking through Gothia Cup Hotels.
This means parents can stay together, travel to games together and discuss the day’s games in the evening bar. The hotels offered by Gothia Cup Hotels are chosen for Prep School Team parents and are well located for travelling to matches across the City and getting to the team accommodation.
You can book at https://gothiacuphotels.com/
Parents who book through Gothia Cup Hotels will be provided with free Opening Ceremony tickets in the England section plus a complimentary Gothia Cup Card which not only gives free access to the Gothenburg transport system but also offers discounts to tourist attractions, including the highly recommended Paddan Boat boats trip and discounted entry to the Theme Park.
We recommend staying close to the city centre so you are nearby to the Tram and Bus links that will take you to matches. The districts of Heden, Stampen, Lorensberg and Nordstaden are the central districts and have great transport links making your week as smooth as possible.
If you book your own accommodation (and there are plenty of options around Gothenburg!), you can purchase Opening Ceremony tickets/ Gothia cards from World Youth Tournaments or at the Heden Centre on Saturday afternoon, Sunday or Monday morning. Please be aware that there can be a queue of up to an hour and tickets are unlikely to be in the same area of the Stadium as the players.
Although some parents prefer the flexibility of a car, in our experience parents do not need a car for getting around the city.
Tickets
Spectators do not need tickets for the matches, but will need a ticket for the Opening Ceremony which is on the Monday night, after the first matches have been played that day. These will be provided free to those booking with Gothia Cup Hotels.
If you book accommodation elsewhere, Opening Ceremony tickets can be purchased here: World Youth Tournaments.
Players do not need tickets for the Opening Ceremony as they will be sitting with their team.
Match Schedule
It is strongly recommended that you download the Gothia Cup App, which gives full details about matches, results, goal-scorers, where matches are being played and lots more.
The Match schedule will be announced by the Gothia Cup at the end of June.
Don’t forget to bring your St George’s flags!!
Valid Passports
A passport must meet two requirements.
- less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
- valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
Parents Party!
Parents’ Party 2025 – Details to follow!
It’s a great way to meet other parents and start the week with some fun! There will be food and drinks available to purchase at the bar. Full details and directions are available here.
The Opening Ceremony
Is held in the Ullevi Stadium on Monday 14th July at 8.00pm.
As the event will be watched by a sell-out 60,000 spectators. All bookings with the Gothia Cup Hotels will include a free ticket and Gothia Card per guest.
Tourism Tips!
A Quick list of places parents have recommended in previous years:
Dinner
Levantine Bistro – neighbourhood bistro
Brasserie Lavette – neighbourhood bistro
Familjen – excellent restaurant with great cocktails
Wine Mechanics – great restaurant in a winery
Drinks
Bar Bruno – Amazing cocktail bar and a champagne bar next door
Olssons Wine Bar – Great wine bar in Linne
Juan Front – Best G & T in the City!
Other
Heden Centre – A must-visit during your trip. Although this is the “Tournament Centre”, you will only see a small number of matches here.
You are certain, however, to see some fantastic games as many of the ‘showcase’ matches are held here, often attracting thousands of spectators. Also at the Heden Centre are various Information Desks, as well as shops and activities. The Heden Centre bus stop is also where many of the bus routes to the pitches will start.
Gothenburg is the second largest City in Sweden and offers a great deal for parents and families to do away from the football.
The tourist information website is very helpful
Lots of parents with families have also previously enjoyed going to the islands. Take tram number 11 west to the end of the line (stop Saltholmen) and there are boats leaving regularly for the islands. You can even use your Gothia Cup Lanyards on the boats to travel without charge. There are lots of islands to choose from but most people go to Fran Styro Bratten which has a small beach, stunning views and a cafe and restaurant.
http://www.goteborg.com/en/archipelago/
Local Time – Gothenburg will be one hour ahead of GMT
Transportation
Transportation in Gothenburg is easy with the use of local buses and trams. They cover the whole city and there is always a stop close by the School and pitches. All public transportation is included with the Gothia Cup Lanyard. There are also the Gothia Cup’s own buses – Gothia Line – that run between schools and playing fields as a compliment to the public transportation system. Schedules for local trams and buses can be found in the schools, on the website www.vasttrafik.se/en or on the Gothia Cup App.
Gothia Cup App provides real time information on matches at the tournament as well as maps and pitch locations.
There are several distinct areas of Gothenburg to visit:
Centrum
The centre of attention. From trendy shops to cool bars, Centrum always grabs the headlines. Trawl for threads on Magasinsgatan, and sip a sneaky glass of bubbly over lunch at Forssén & Öberg. Later in Heaven 23, savour super-size shrimp sandwiches and take in twinkling skyline views. Then try the smorgasbord of cocktails at late-night Lounges.
Things to see and do
Lundby
From rusty hulls to shiny façades, this area’s had quite the facelift. The iconic Eriksberg Crane hints at a storied shipbuilding past, but the waterfront now bustles with modernity. Stroll amid pram-pushing joggers and Lindholmen Science Park’s lunchtime IT crowd. Then vroom on over to the Volvo Museum and soak up some classic Swedish nostalgia.
Majorna-Linné
City politicos count it as one, but locals make a clear distinction. In dockside Majorna, the vibe is more plaid shirt than blue collar. Riff through vintage vinyl in Bengans, then quaff local brews like Dugges at cosy Ölstugan. Then ramble around leafy Linné’s charming streets and high-end shops, and chow on upscale Med dishes in Spisa.
Things to see and do
Örgryte-Härlanda
There’s more to Örgryte than its sleepy “Svensson-ville” rep. Take the hip Olskroken area, where you can nibble on naan and tuck into tikka masala at Spicy Bollywood. Pop into Tidbloms Pub for stand-up comedy or a friendly sit-down. Then there’s Lake Delsjön, where you can swim, canoe or barbecue amid pretty pinewood panoramas.
If you’ve read this far you deserve to hear about some hidden secrets of Gothenburg!
Utbybergen
Utbybergen is a beautiful nature reserve in north-eastern Gothenburg. As well as being a climber’s dream, it also has a 3000-year-old tomb, a small lake for swimming and viewpoints overlooking the city. It’s just a short bus ride from the centre – take line 58 to Hindersmässogatan.
Amundön Island
Just a 20-minute bus ride south of Gothenburg, this peaceful island is home to beaches, cliffs and oak forests. You can fish from the shore or bring a snorkel to explore the underwater wildlife. To get there, take bus 82 to Lillövägen and cross over the bridge to Amundön.
Magasinsgatan
You’ll find a fun mix of shops, restaurants and bars on Magasinsgatan – perfect for an afternoon stroll. Be sure to stop at Da Matteo for a fantastic cup of coffee and a bite to eat, or if you’re feeling more adventurous, try the traditional fried Baltic herring at Strömmingsluckan!
