One Sleep to Go – Final Details for the Auckland International Cup 2025!

Dear Team Managers and Club Representatives,

The countdown is officially on – one sleep to go! The Auckland International Cup kicks off tomorrow, and we’re all set for an unforgettable weekend of football, fun, and community.

Here’s your final checklist and key info before the action begins:

Opening Ceremony – Thursday 8:00 AM

We’ll begin the tournament with a short Opening Ceremony at 8:00 AM. All teams, families, and supporters are warmly invited – let’s kick things off together!

Team Check-In & Arrival

Please arrive at least 40 minutes before your first match.
Collect your Team Pack at the AIC Reception (next to the fields).
Proof of age is required for all players at check-in. A photo or digital copy of a passport, birth certificate, or official ID showing full name and date of birth is accepted.
Each player will receive a wristband which must be worn to play.
Players without wristbands will not be permitted to play.

Player Registration

All players must be fully registered in Cup Manager.
Please ensure shirt numbers, full names, and date of birth are completed.

Field Managers & Match Reports

Our field managers will work closely with referees on each pitch.
They’ll keep track of the official scores and match reports.
At the end of each game, coaches must sign the report and confirm all goal scorers.
This helps us track stats for the awards at the prizegiving on Sunday!

Rules & Regulations – Important Reminders

You can view the full rules here:
Competition Regulations

Here are some important highlights:

Retreating Line: This applies to U9 and U10. Opponents must stay behind the line during a goal kick until the first pass is made. This line also acts as the offside reference for these age groups.
U11 & U12 Offside: The halfway line is the offside reference. However, the retreating line also applies to goal kicks.
Goal Kicks: Must be played short (within the retreating line). Long goal kicks are not allowed.
Free Kicks & Corners: All are indirect – the ball must be touched by another player before a goal is scored.
Game Whistle: All matches will be timed and signalled by an air horn (kick-off, half-time, restart, final whistle). After the sound of the air horn, play continues until the ball goes out of play.

Playoffs & Sudden Death Penalties

If a playoff match ends in a draw, it will go straight to a sudden-death penalty shootout.
In this format, both teams take turns with one penalty each until one scores and the other doesn’t.

Footwear & Fields

All games are played on turf fields.
No metal studs are allowed – regular football boots or turf are fine.

Spectators & Gazebos

Families and supporters are more than welcome – entry is FREE for all four days!
A designated covered gazebo area will be available if you’d like to bring one for comfort.

Parking Info

There are three main car parks at the school – first come, first served.
From Friday onwards, the Smales Farm car park will also be available.
Street parking is available in the surrounding school area as needed.