The Valley to Host Unity Cup 2026

There’s a big summer of football heading to SE7, as Charlton Athletic confirm The Valley will host the 2026 Unity Cup this May.

The international tournament will bring together Nigeria, Jamaica, Zimbabwe and India for a three-day event combining football, music and food.

Tournament Details

Fans can look forward to two evening semi-finals followed by a finals day at the end of May:

• Tuesday May 26 (7:30pm): Nigeria v Zimbabwe
• Wednesday May 27 (7:30pm): Jamaica v India
• Saturday May 30: Third-place play-off and Grand Final (7:30pm)

The Unity Cup was last held at The Valley back in 2004, and organisers say this year’s edition will be even bigger.

Addicks Links on the Pitch

There could be a strong Charlton connection involved too. Players linked with the club such as Ademola Lookman, Joe Aribo and Karoy Anderson may feature for their national sides.

More Than Just Football

It won’t just be about what happens on the pitch.

Final day organisers are planning a full fan experience, including international street food, live music and DJs — turning The Valley into a celebration of the communities that make up South East London.

Charlton Vice-Chairman Paul Elliott says the event reflects the area:

“The participating countries are all so representative of our unique local demographic here in South East London.”

Meanwhile, organisers AfroSport say the Unity Cup is about bringing people together:

“This is more than a football match — it’s a celebration of culture, rivalry, friendship and respect.”

Tickets

Tickets are available to pre-register now, starting from £18.