Malaysia’s football titan Johor Darul Ta’zim Football Club (JDT) launched the Johor Junior Cup 2026 in collaboration with the Johor State Football Association (PBNJ) and Johor School Sports Council (MSSJ) on 31st January 2026.

The tournament, which is said to be primarily a strategic initiative for the growth of grassroots football, is also hailed as the largest event ever organised by the club and the state’s association.

61 teams in the Under-9 category and 79 teams in the Under-11 category representing different districts across the state of Johor will compete in the 2026 Johor Junior Cup Championship, which is set to take place from February to November 2026.

Vice President I of the Johor State Football Association and Mayor of the Johor Bahru City Council, Dato’ Haji Mohd Haffiz bin Haji Ahmad, presided over the Johor Junior Cup 2026 launch ceremony.

Also present were Dato’ Haji Mohammed Ridha bin Dato’ Haji Abd Kadir, Johor State Financial Officer and Honorary Treasurer of the Johor State Football Association; Alistair Edwards, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Johor Darul Ta’zim FC; Haji Mohd Anizam bin Jamian, Honorary Secretary of the Johor State Football Association; Javier Jorda Ribera, Director of the Johor Darul Ta’zim Academy; Sukumaran Kunjapan, Development Manager of Johor Darul Ta’zim FC, as well as Mohd Khairul Azhar bin Abdul Latif, Assistant Director of Student Talent Development (MSSJ Football Coordinator).

The launching ceremony was attended by team representatives, including team managers from the Johor Junior Cup 2026 tournament.

In a joint statement, PBNJ and MSSJ expressed their hope that the Johor Junior Cup 2026 would run smoothly and efficiently, serving as an important platform for identifying, guiding, and empowering potential young talents.

This initiative is expected to significantly contribute to the growth of a more sustainable and competitive Johor football ecosystem.