Young Football Stars Shine at the 2024/25 Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup National Finals

London, United Kingdom – 20th May 2025 – The excitement reached new heights as young primary school footballers from across the nation came together at Stoke City Stadium for the finals of the 2025/26 Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup. After a spectacular season that saw over 50,000 children from primary schools take part, the winners were crowned National Champions and lifted the trophy whilst cheered on by Pikachu. 

Now in its third year, the multi-year partnership between the English Schools’ Football Association (ESFA) and The Pokémon Company International continues to flourish—and this season the tournament wasn’t just about competition—it was about community, teamwork, and friendship. Players showed off their impressive football skills, grew closer with their teammates, and made countless memories along the way. 

The 2025/26 National Finals winners are: 

• U11 Schools’ Cup Champions: Wolfson Hillel Primary School 

• U11 Girls’ Cup Champions: Valley Gardens Middle School 

• U11 Small Schools’ Cup Champions: Kelsall Community Primary School 

“The energy at this year’s Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup Finals was nothing short of inspiring. From the first whistle to the final celebration, these young players brought heart, determination, and incredible talent to the pitch. It’s moments like these—where teamwork, joy, and community come together. Congratulations to everyone who took part this season,” said Peter Murphy, Senior Director of Marketing at The Pokémon Company International.  “We’re proud to continue our work with the ESFA, helping to create spaces where children can thrive, connect, and fall in love with the beautiful game.”  

Nick Loftus, ESFA Chair said, “It has been a great pleasure for me to be involved with the Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup from its origins in the district round, to the County round, Regional finals and now today the National finals. To see football played by boys and girls in our primary schools in such a good spirited way has been incredible, the attitude of the players in the primary schools’ cup competitions that I’ve had the privilege of watching this season has been exemplary. Pupils have played with smiles on their faces and clearly enjoyed the whole experience. On behalf of the ESFA I would like to congratulate the three winners from today’s final and thank all of the schools that took part in the Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup competitions this season and I hope each and every player has been inspired to continue on their footballing journey as they head towards the new school year”. 

The U11 Schools’ Cup, U11 Girls’ Cup and U11 Small Schools’ Cup competitions provide a pathway for teams to progress through three rounds of competition, culminating in the National Finals.  

The Pokémon Company International is on a mission to delight their fans through excellent products and meaningful experiences. Through initiatives like the Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup, there is continued support of the development of young talent while spreading joy and connection through sport. 

Schools who would like to join the action in the 2025/206 season can contact their local County Schools’ FA to get involved in next year’s local rounds. More information can be found here.  

About Pokémon   

The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, please visit www.pokemon.co.uk.  

About the English Schools’ FA 

Since its formation in 1904, the English Schools’ Football Association has become the National Governing Body for Schools’ Football in England. The Association provides over 1 million footballing opportunities for school pupils in England, each year.    

The Association generates footballing activity for around 700,000 children across the country each season, with over 100,000 pupils taking part in National Schools’ Cup competitions. The ESFA consistently works to create new and improved opportunities for schools’ football players in England, whilst working hard to create equal and inclusive access to the sport, in particular its provision of girls’ football.  

The ESFA prides itself on its educational ethos and it values the importance of football in the classroom as much as on the pitch with the Association creating plenty of opportunities to celebrate all the wide-reaching benefits of Schools’ Football. For more information about the ESFA and its many campaigns, including Schools’ Football Week, you can visit the ESFA website or follow @schoolsfoootball on Twitter and Instagram