The Yeonsu-gu Office Youth Football Club (headed by Yeonsu-gu District Mayor Lee Jae-ho) finished runner-up in the U-12 division and third in the U-10 division at a national youth football tournament, demonstrating the competitiveness of Yeonsu-gu's youth football on the national stage. The club competed in the “2026 Chungju Apple Cup UMZ National 8-Province Youth Championship,” held over three days from the 9th through the 11th at Tangeum Football Field and other venues in Chungju.
 [The Korean Today] Yeonsu-gu Office Youth Football Club, prizewinners at the ‘2026 Chungju Apple Cup’ © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
The tournament was divided into three age groups, U-10, U-11 and U-12, with 16 teams from across the country competing in each age group. Teams first played a group stage and then advanced to ranking-based tournament brackets according to their results. With several matches packed into a short schedule, the format demanded both squad depth and game management skills.
The U-12 division produced the club's best result. The club's U-12 players topped their group to advance to the knockout stage, beat Seoul Daedong Elementary School 1-0 in the quarterfinals, and then routed Cheonan Hun FC 3-0 in the semifinals to reach the final. The team did not concede a single goal in its two knockout matches, showing steady performance on both offense and defense.
In the final, the team faced Onsaemiro FC for the title. The players kept the match tight until the end but fell 2-1, stopping just short of the championship. Although the team finished as runner-up, the result is regarded as a meaningful achievement given that the players handled the full schedule from the group stage to the final without faltering.
The U-10 division also brought home a podium finish. The U-10 players defeated Busan Haeundae 3-1 in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals. In the semifinal against Gumi Bisan Elementary School, the two sides traded nine goals in a high-scoring contest, but the team lost 5-4 by a single goal and finished third overall.
Although it did not place, the U-11 squad also posted a record of three wins, one draw and one loss in league play. The club thus showed consistent competitiveness across all three age groups it entered, revealing a balanced roster that does not rely on any single grade level.
The even results across age groups are also notable from the standpoint of local youth sports. The district-run youth football club's string of strong results at national tournaments is seen as a sign that a foundation is taking shape for Yeonsu-gu children to learn sports systematically within their community and gain experience on bigger stages.
Yeonsu-gu District Mayor Lee Jae-ho, who heads the club, said, “I thank the players, coaching staff and parents who gave their all to the very end at the national tournament,” adding, “We will continue to provide support so that our youth players can safely develop their skills and grow.”
If the competitiveness shown by the three age groups at this tournament is backed by continued development and support, the Yeonsu-gu Office Youth Football Club is expected to further strengthen its role as a hub of youth football in southern Incheon.
[ Reporter Kim Mi-hee: incheonsouth@thekoreantoday.com ]
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