Epsom, England — The 2026 London Ladies Cup once again showed why it has become one of Europe’s premier international tournaments for U16 girls’ football.
The tournament began on Friday in extraordinary heat, with temperatures soaring to 34 degrees Celsius. Divided into two groups of six, the teams produced an outstanding opening day despite the demanding conditions. After weeks of dry weather, the natural grass pitches at Epsom College were immaculate, drawing praise from clubs and coaches alike.
The London Ladies Cup is about far more than just results. All twelve teams stayed, dined and competed on campus, creating a unique environment where elite competition was combined with a shared international experience.
Saturday’s quarter-finals confirmed the quality of this year’s competition. Chelsea FC defeated HJK Helsinki, Kolbotn Fotball of Norway overcame Elite XI, Arsenal FC beat Arna-Bjørnar, and Aston Villa defeated Red Bull Salzburg to complete an impressive final four.
Sunday delivered a fitting finale. Chelsea FC edged past Kolbotn Fotball in a thrilling semi-final, while Aston Villa came from behind to beat Arsenal FC and secure their place in the final. Kolbotn Fotball responded superbly in the third-place match, defeating Arsenal FC to claim a well-deserved place on the podium.
The final between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa was tense and evenly balanced, ending 0–0 after normal time. The title therefore had to be decided from the penalty spot. Chelsea FC’s goalkeeper produced two crucial saves in the shootout to secure the trophy and crown Chelsea FC London Ladies Cup champions for the second consecutive year.
Final Ranking – London Ladies Cup 2026
🏆 1st – Chelsea FC 🏴
🥈 2nd – Aston Villa FC 🏴
🥉 3rd – Kolbotn Elite 🇳🇴
4th – Arsenal FC 🏴
5th – Red Bull Salzburg 🇦🇹
6th – Elite XI 🇨🇦
7th – HJK Helsinki 🇫🇮
8th – Arna-Bjørnar 🇳🇴
9th – Breidablik Kópavogur 🇮🇸
10th – OL Lyonnes 🇫🇷
11th – FC Bayern München 🇩🇪
12th – Birmingham City 🏴
The tournament also recognised several outstanding individual performances. Nieve Childs of Arsenal FC finished as the tournament’s Top Scorer, while Sanne Hamra of Kolbotn Fotball was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
The Player of the Tournament award went to Queeny Barnes of Chelsea FC. Already recognised as the youngest female footballer ever to sign a Nike contract, Barnes produced a series of outstanding performances throughout the tournament. An injury sustained in the semi-final unfortunately ruled her out of the final, but her impact across the three days was undeniable.
With Chelsea FC lifting the trophy, Aston Villa finishing runners-up, Kolbotn Fotball taking third place and Arsenal FC finishing fourth, the 2026 London Ladies Cup once again showcased the remarkable standard of international U16 girls’ football.
Holland Elite extends its sincere thanks to every player, coach, referee, volunteer, partner and supporter who contributed to this year’s event. A special thank you goes to Epsom College for its outstanding hospitality, exceptional facilities and the tremendous work that went into preparing the grass pitches in such challenging summer conditions.
As another memorable London Ladies Cup comes to an end, attention already turns towards 2027.
We look forward to welcoming teams back to Epsom College next year for another unforgettable chapter of the London Ladies Cup.
