World Cup put wrench in plans for Kamloops International Cup men’s division; women’s division gets boost

On the women’s side, organizers announced a tournament first for 2026, the inclusion of a professional first team, with Nottingham Forest scheduled to compete in the women’s division.

“What an opportunity for our young players, the youngest team in our league (B.C. Premier League), to be able to go and put themselves against established international footballers,” United technical director Darren Sarll said. “It’s brilliant for our young players to learn and see what that looks like so they can aspire.”

Nottingham Forest toils in Women’s Super League 2, the second-highest division of women’s soccer in England.

“There’s been a minimum of nine internationals on their roster,” Dos Santos said. “It’s going to be an amazing experience for the club, for the fans, for the community.”

Rounding out the women’s draw are Kamloops United and Vancouver Rise FC Academy of the semi-pro BCPL and the BCPL selects team.

The women’s division featured under-21 teams from Aston Villa and Arsenal in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Fulham and Nottingham Forest brought U21 men’s teams in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

This year, the U21 squad from Calgary-based Cavalry FC of the Alberta Premier League, Kamloops United and the BCPL selects will compete on the men’s side.

Organizers have trumpeted desires to expand the field and bring in more international clubs, but the men’s World Cup appears to have put those plans on hold.

“Lots of things change,” Sarll said. “First-team managers change back home in England. As soon as the manager changes, they then want to have the ability to look at their best young players. So, sometimes they get pulled up. Squads change. Budgets change. Some stay up, some go down. There was a million factors in it, but this time next year will be no problem whatsoever. I think we’ll have more teams than ever.”

Last year, KIC organizers spoke of plans to introduce a sizeable youth tournament.

“We’re kind of in a bit of a holding pattern with the tournament,” Dos Santos said. “We’re just trying to figure out the right date and partner with the city on that. It’s going to be a big event. When we do it, we have to make sure it’s done right. It’s our first foray into hosting a youth tournament that’s at an international scale and we want to make sure that we knock it out of the park.”

The schedule of events this year can be found here and includes three youth clinics.

Nottingham Forest will host youth camps for girls on July 26 and July 29. Cavalry FC will host a youth camp for boys on July 27.

by Marty Hastings

World Cup put wrench in plans for Kamloops International Cup men’s division; women’s division gets boost

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