The Premier League has announced that its Next Generation Cup will be staged in China for the first time when it kicks off this April, marking a new step in its efforts to support youth football development in the country.

The tournament, the 2026 Next Gen Beijing Cup, will take place from April 3 to 12 at the National Olympic Sports Centre, which also houses China's National Football Youth Training Centre. Jointly organized by the Premier League and the Beijing Football Association, the competition will bring together eight youth academy teams from China and the United Kingdom.

Participating sides include under-15 squads from three English clubs — Arsenal, Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers — alongside four mainland Chinese teams: Beijing FA's U15 selection, Shijiazhuang Gongfu FC (U15), Shanghai Shenhua FC (U15) and Zhejiang FC (U15). The Hong Kong China U16 Elite Selection Team will complete the lineup.

Teams will be divided into two groups, with group winners advancing to the Cup Final and runners-up competing in the Shield Final.

The Next Gen Cup is designed as a youth development platform, combining high-level competition with opportunities for cultural exchange and knowledge-sharing. The tournament has previously been staged in England and India.

In parallel with the competition, the Premier League will host a four-day "Next Gen Coach" program for 40 grassroots coaches from across the region. Delivered with support from league staff and coaches from Burnley FC and Chelsea FC, the initiative aims to enhance coaching standards through practical training and workshops.

A series of coaching development master classes will also be held, culminating in a youth football festival involving 64 players aged between 10 and 12 years old at the Xiao Hua Maoer Football Training Center.

Neil Saunders, director of Football at the Premier League, described the event as a "significant milestone," highlighting its role in strengthening long-term partnerships and providing young Chinese players with exposure to elite-level competition. He added that the accompanying coaching program would enable local coaches to benefit from Premier League expertise and apply those insights in their own coaching setups.

Liu Jun, president of the Beijing Football Association, said the tournament aligns with the city's efforts to build a comprehensive youth training system and structured competition framework. He noted that the event would offer valuable high-level match experience while serving as a platform for international exchange.

The Beijing edition follows the opening of the Premier League's local office in 2024 and a memorandum of understanding signed with the Chinese Football Association. The league said it will continue working with Chinese football authorities and other stakeholders to support the development of players, coaches and match officials, as well as grassroots training programs.