MERKUUR-JUUNIOR CUP 2026
| Age group | Date | On field | Match time | Kick-in / throw-in | Max. players | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 17.10.2026 | 6+1 | 1 × 20 min | Throw-in by hand | 15 | 5 |
| 2018 | 18.10.2026 | 4+1 | 1 × 17 min | Kick-in; player may not dribble the ball onto the field | 12 | 5 |
| 2019 | 17.10.2026 | 4+1 | 1 × 17 min | Kick-in; player may bring the ball onto the field themselves* | 12 | 5 |
| 2020** | 18.10.2026 | 3+1 | 1 × 15 min | Kick-in; player may bring the ball onto the field themselves* | 10 | 6 |
Offside: the offside rule is not applied in any age group.
* In the 2019 and 2020 tournaments, a player may bring the ball onto the field themselves from a kick-in and continue the attack. For a subsequent goal to count, at least one pass to a teammate must be made after such a self-started kick-in.
** In the 2020 tournament, final standings are not determined. Every participant receives a Merkuur-Juunior Cup keepsake award.
Four age groups. Four separate one-day tournaments. Two days of football in Tartu. And several good reasons why this tournament should be one to remember.
On 17-18 October 2026, Merkuur-Juunior Cup 2026 will take place at Annemõisa Football Hall in Tartu. We welcome teams of players born in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
On Saturday, 17 October, the 2017 and 2019 age groups will play. On Sunday, 18 October, the pitch belongs to the 2018 and 2020 teams.
We are working to create a tournament where teams take home more than just a result left behind on Turniir.ee.
IMPRESSIVE TROPHIES
The top three teams in the 2017, 2018 and 2019 tournaments will receive truly eye-catching trophies.
The goal is simple: when a Merkuur-Juunior Cup trophy is placed on an already well-filled club trophy shelf, it should not take long to spot it.
A KEEPSAKE AWARD FOR EVERY PLAYER
Every child taking part in the Merkuur-Juunior Cup will receive a personal tournament keepsake award.
We are trying to make it the kind of award that, once you get home, raises not the question “where should we put this?” but rather “where is the best visible place for it?”
The awards for players from the teams finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd will carry the corresponding placing.
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER
An experienced sports photographer using professional equipment will work at the Merkuur-Juunior Cup.
Goals, saves, emotions and the awards ceremony will therefore remain not only in our memories.
We are also preparing one small surprise for every participating team. We will keep the details secret for now. If everything works out exactly as planned, it will become another nice memory from the Merkuur-Juunior Cup.
VENUE
Kaunase pst 70a
Tartu
All tournaments are played indoors, so the October weather is welcome to do whatever it likes that weekend.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT
In the 2017, 2018 and 2019 tournaments, 16 teams are divided into four groups of four (A, B, C and D). Each team plays three group-stage matches.
After the group stage, every team plays two placement matches. In the 2020 tournament, each team plays 6 matches, without final standings.
2017, 2018 and 2019
After the group stage, teams enter placement brackets according to their group positions: group winners compete for places 1-4, runners-up for places 5-8, third-placed teams for places 9-12, and fourth-placed teams for places 13-16.
The first placement matches are:
A2 - C2 B2 - D2
A3 - C3 B3 - D3
A4 - C4 B4 - D4
In each four-team bracket, the winners of the first matches play for the two higher places, and the losing teams play for the two lower places. Every team therefore plays exactly 5 matches: 3 group matches and 2 placement matches.
2020
In the 2020 tournament, no final ranking is compiled.
Every team receives 6 matches, but at the end of the tournament the teams are not ranked from first to last.
At this age, the main goal is to play as much as possible, score goals, defend your own goal, experience emotions and gain football experience.
AWARDS
Impressive trophies
The top three teams in the 2017, 2018 and 2019 tournaments receive Merkuur-Juunior Cup trophies.
We pay particular attention to the choice of trophies. They should be memorable and easy to spot among other trophies.
When a Merkuur-Juunior Cup trophy reaches an already well-filled trophy shelf, it should not take long to find it.
A keepsake award for every player
Every participant receives a personal Merkuur-Juunior Cup keepsake award.
We are trying to make it something a child will want to give a visible place at home.
The awards for players from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed teams will carry the corresponding placing.
Individual awards
In the 2017, 2018 and 2019 tournaments, the following are selected separately:
- Best Player of the tournament;
- Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.
Both receive a separate individual award.
PHOTOS
An experienced sports photographer using professional equipment will work at the Merkuur-Juunior Cup.
After the tournament, the best photos will be published on the channels of Jalgpalliklubi "Merkuur-Juunior".
CONTACT
For more detailed information, please email:
For a quicker response, you may call:
Aleksandr Pruttšenko
EST, RUS
+372 5562 2838
Maksim Mitrofanov
EST, RUS, ENG
+372 5757 0777
Valeri Šabanov
EST, RUS, ENG
+372 5823 0193
