2023 Gothia Cup By Numbers:
70 Nations
1878 Teams
4771 Matches
110 Pitches
All of our accommodations and transportation were organized by FCNE, plus a couple of our meals. Both hotels we lodged at provided breakfast (yay danish pastries every morning) and each were close to grocery stores. FCNE offers “land only” packages, where you can purchase your own plane tickets or they offer full packages which include the plane tickets, starting at a specific city. Based on our experience and some stories from others, I would recommend anyone to sign up for “land only” and have total control over your own flights.
Our Gothia Cup journey started in Copenhagen, Denmark, where we first met our team and coaches in person. FCNE held practices and scrimmages for the teams at local Danish soccer clubs during our time here.The parents didn’t have to attend practices and could use that time to explore Copenhagen. For scrimmages, we went as a group and were invited to stay afterwards at the clubs, for food and drinks. This was such a great opportunity to see how the local clubs are run and how the game is taught slightly differently in each country. The local clubs in Copenhagen had large indoor clubhouses where the players and parents would hang out, usually next to another large area outside with picnic tables. We visited two different clubs while in Copenhagen, and each welcomed us with such hospitality! We even got to experience “hygge” with one team after the matches. We all gathered in the clubhouse and were served fresh fruit and juices.
While our training and games in Denmark were only a short time, we left for Sweden filled with gratitude and eagerness to experience more! It was much more about the community of youth soccer rather than the competition. It was definitely a welcomed change of pace for a couple weeks.
Some Ideas:
Use an eye dropper or squeeze water bottle with warm water to melt the ice.
Hammer it with a small kid-friendly wooden mallet.
TIme how long it takes the egg to melt sitting under the sun.
If your kids are complete animals like mine, they’ll find the best way to get their dinosaurs out was to blast the eggs on the pool deck and watch the ice egg explode.
The atmosphere felt very much like a World Cup experience! Multiple stadiums, teams from all over the world, and an incredible opening ceremony! The Opening Ceremony was held in Ullevi Stadium, Scandinavia’s largest stadium. It was a 2 hour long show with signers, dancers, fireworks, and a presentation of all participating nations. The kids still talk about this being one of their favorite parts of the trip.
Some Ideas:
Use an eye dropper or squeeze water bottle with warm water to melt the ice.
Hammer it with a small kid-friendly wooden mallet.
TIme how long it takes the egg to melt sitting under the sun.
If your kids are complete animals like mine, they’ll find the best way to get their dinosaurs out was to blast the eggs on the pool deck and watch the ice egg explode.
Some Ideas:
Use an eye dropper or squeeze water bottle with warm water to melt the ice.
Hammer it with a small kid-friendly wooden mallet.
TIme how long it takes the egg to melt sitting under the sun.
If your kids are complete animals like mine, they’ll find the best way to get their dinosaurs out was to blast the eggs on the pool deck and watch the ice egg explode.
Overall, our experience at the Gothia Cup was unique and life changing. We met so many families and formed so many relationships from this trip. Months later and we still have an active team group chat.
