KUCHING: The PETRONAS Youth Football Closed Tournament (PYFCT) and PETRONAS Youth Football Champions League (PYFCL) 2026 are expected to record their highest-ever participation since inception, involving approximately 4,100 players and team officials from 164 teams across Sarawak.

Sarawak Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said a total of 164 teams will compete in the PYFCT across three tournament zones: 84 teams in Kuching from July 25 to October 24, 56 teams in Bintulu from August 1 to November 8, and 24 teams in Mukah from September 26 to November 15.

Meanwhile, he noted that the top teams in the Under-14 and Under-16 categories from each PYFCT zone will be gathered for an elite competition, namely the PETRONAS Youth Football Champions League (PYFCL).

"This tournament will culminate in the PYFCL 2026, scheduled to take place in Kuching from December 6 to 13, 2026, bringing together the champions from each zone to vie for the overall title.

"It will be like a Sarawak Cup or a league within Sarawak, but involving youths," he said during a PYFCT and PYFCL 2026 press conference at Bangunan Baitulmakmur 2 on Wednesday.

He added that following the success of the 2024 and 2025 editions, this year's tournament has been further expanded with the introduction of Mukah as a new venue alongside Kuching and Bintulu, thereby opening up more opportunities for young players throughout Sarawak.

Dato Sri Abdul Karim shared that the tournament experience has also been enhanced through the use of the Easy Tournament mobile application, which allows parents, coaches, players, and supporters to access match schedules, results, team standings, and the latest tournament updates in real-time.

In the meantime, he said the Sarawak Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED) remains committed to empowering youths through sports, leadership development, and community engagement.

According to him, PYFCT and PYFCL 2026 stand as proof of this commitment to nurturing a healthier, active, resilient, and united generation of Sarawakians.

Also present were the Chief Political Secretary to the Premier of Sarawak, who is also the President of the Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) and Co-Chairman of PYFCT 2026 Dato Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, MYSED Permanent Secretary Dzulkornain Masron, PETRONAS Sarawak General Manager and Co-Chairman of PYFCT 2026 Norazibah Mohd Rabu, alongside other dignitaries. — UKASnews

Prepared by: Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Photos by: Muhammad Ramzani
Translator: Ryan Lim