Kia Hosts Global Youth Football Tournament OMBC Cup 2026
Kia Corporation hosted 63 young players from nine countries at the Kia OMBC Cup 2026 in California, expanding its FIFA World Cup partnership beyond ceremonial ball delivery.
- 63
- 9
- Since 2007
What Happened
Kia Corporation hosted the Kia OMBC Cup 2026™ at LA Galaxy Park in Carson, California, bringing together 63 youth players from nine countries. The tournament is an extension of Kia's Official Match Ball Carrier program under its partnership with the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
“Through the Kia OMBC Cup 2026™ we wanted to give young players the opportunity to experience the FIFA World Cup 2026™ as a meaningful journey of connection. We hope these moments of inspiration will continue to grow into new stories, and we look forward to continuing the journey towards this year's tournament together.”
The tournament expands the OMBC program beyond ceremonial ball delivery by offering young players a deeper, shared FIFA World Cup-inspired experience. Kia released a short film documenting the event, with additional digital content to be released from late April onward.
63 players from 9 countries
The tournament combined group and knockout-style matches with emphasis on collaboration and cultural exchange.
Why this matters
The tournament gives youth a unique World Cup experience and reinforces Kia's brand commitment to connecting future generations through football.
Terms in This Story
- OMBC
- Official Match Ball Carrier – a program where children deliver the match ball onto the field before FIFA World Cup matches.
- 49th Team
- A symbolic borderless team representing youth from the Kia OMBC Cup, positioned beyond the 48 nations competing in the FIFA World Cup.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.