Timeline building up to the Gothia cup!
October – November:
- After receiving your trial selection email, Send in Registration Form and pay deposit
December:
2. Wait to receive squad and flight details.
3. Order kit (Remember the absolute deadline is 15th June 2025)
4. If parents are going, read through our ‘Guide for Parents’ and arrange your flights and book into an England Supporters Hotel on their website, https://gothiacuphotels.com/, all bookings include Opening ceremony ticket and Gothia cards.
- If you have arranged your own accommodation, you can order your Gothia cards and Opening Ceremony tickets before May 31st by emailing info@worldyouthtournaments.com
5. If your son/daughter is not flying with the team, look on Team Page to see what time to drop them off at team accommodation.
January:
6. Pay balance for Training Camp by January 31st
February – March:
7. Prepare for the Easter Training Camps using our helpful information pages on; Drop-off times, Packing list and FAQ for Camp
April:
8. Pay balance for Gothia Cup by April 30th
May – June:
9. Have a look through our ‘Checklist for the Gothia Cup‘ to make sure you’ve got all important documents sorted (Passports, GHIC, Travel insurance, currency card).
10. Keep up with our Prep Schools Weekly Newsletter which gives lots of useful tips and reminders to help your planning for the trip.
July – Have the trip of a lifetime!
Extra Information
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’)
Do parents need to attend?
It is completely optional for parents to attend the Gothia Cup. While it’s great to have supporters in Gothenburg there is no expectation or need for parents to attend.
When to fly
We always recommend waiting until we have booked fights and confirmed drop off times before parents wishing to attend book their trip.
Where to stay
For 2025, there will be Official England Supporters Hotels. Those booking into these hotels will receive free Opening Ceremony Tickets in the England section and Gothia Cards (for transport, discounts). Parents can book at https://gothiacuphotels.com/
At the airport
Check your players Team page, to find out where and with whom you should register at the airport. Players must attend in their team tracksuit and training top and ensure they have their passport, European/Global Health Card, a top-up currency card and a small amount of cash, Swedish kroner, for team activities. We also recommend some sterling to spend in the airport. Players should have one holdall bag to check-in and one hand luggage bag (their Lions rucksack/holdall). Click here for the full packing list.
For those parents not attending
You’ll be able to keep up with the score by downloading the Gothia Cup App, which also includes the fixture timetable, live match updates and some matches even have streaming options available. The Gotha Cup website also includes all of the above.
For parents in Gothenburg
We don’t expect parents to see the players over the first weekend, so we suggest you use the weekend to look around Gothenburg and to visit the Heden Centre on Sunday to pick up a map.
Parents’ Party – Full details here
The Party will take place on Sunday (13th) evening at the Hard Rock Cafe, the night before the first match. It’s a great way to meet other parents and start the week.
Gothia Cup/Opening Ceremony tickets
Parents who have not booked through the England Supporters hotels but wish to attend the Opening Ceremony should purchase tickets before 31st May by emailing: info@worldyouthtournaments.com
Finding your match
Fixtures and maps to venues can be found at www.gothiacup.se or maps can be bought at the Heden Centre. We also recommend downloading The Gothia Cup app where you can follow your favourite teams and have quick access to the transport map.
At the matches
We ask parents to stand on the opposite side to the coaching staff, and we do not expect parents to talk to the players before or during the match, even when they are a substitute. We do expect plenty of St George’s flags and lots of positive support for all the players from the touchline! Following the match the Head Coach will come to the parents side of the pitch to explain the plan for the rest of the day. Please wait until the Head Coach has come to you, as he will need to organise the players’ cool down, deal with any injuries and ensure they have taken on fluids before coming to speak to the parents.
We hope that parents will watch as many games as possible and support all the District teams in their matches!
Spending Money
Although we recommend bringing some kronas in small notes, all players will need a pre-paid currency card. Revolut, Fairfx and GoHenry offer Under 18’s card options for spending abroad. Most shops in Gothenburg do not take cash. This allows parents to cancel the card if it gets lost, monitor spending and top-up if required.
Expenditure will be minimal while they are in the tournament but will be mainly on snacks, drinks, souvenirs, rides at the theme park and trips out (crazy golf/laser quest). The amount the players spend will therefore increase if the team is knocked out of the tournament.
The meals provided run from Sunday evening until Saturday breakfast, so outside of these days players will need to purchase their own food which we will help them to do. Further information is available at WHAT TO BRING.
Insurance
Due to changes in financial regulations, we are no longer able to include insurance within the cost of the trip. Therefore, to reduce administration, provide more choice of insurance for parents, prevent ‘double-booking’ where players are already covered by existing policies and to simply the issue of parents having to declare pre-existing medical conditions, we are asking parents to arrange their own insurance. Check out our insurance page for more details.
Communication
Players may bring a basic mobile phone, although players will not be allowed to use them all the time and as a minimum they will be collected in before bedtime until the morning. Do remember that the players will be very busy, so don’t worry if they don’t call or text you! Please also ensure you remember that most children use text messaging differently to adults so please don’t expect to text you like an adult. We’d recommend talking to your child before the trip about use of their phone. The school accommodation usually has a wifi connection. In the case of an emergency (only) parents will be provided with an Emergency Phone number.
Airport pick-up
We ask parents to be at the arrivals hall no later than 45 minutes after the flight is due to land. Each team will come into the arrivals hall as a group, so why not give them a clap when they appear! Please let the Head Coach know you are taking your player before leaving with them.
