Press release, 11 February 2026 The field of participants for the U19 tournament is complete The line-up for the International U19 Football Tournament in Altstätten has been finalised. With Nottingham Forest (England), GNK Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) and Red Bull Bragantino (Brazil), the organisers have announced the last three teams for the 2026 edition. The tournament will be played on 15 and 16 May 2026 at the Gesa sports complex. The first five teams were announced before Christmas: Newcastle United, Bröndby IF, FC St. Gallen, the home team FC Altstätten and defending champions Odense BK. This means that the organising committee can once again announce an internationally attractive line-up for the tournament. ‘Our sports managers have done a very good job. It is becoming more difficult every year to attract teams to an international tournament,’ says OC President Urs Schneider. This makes the good reputation that the tournament in the Upper Rhine Valley has built up over decades all the more helpful. Nottingham Forest returns Nottingham Forest is another well-known team returning to Altstätten. After participating in 2000, 2002 and 2014, the traditional English club will be making its fourth appearance at Gesa. "Nottingham Forest travelled to Altstätten at the beginning of the year with a representative from its youth academy for an assessment. We are delighted that we were able to convince them and received their confirmation shortly afterwards,‘ says Schneider. After Newcastle, this means that a second team from England – ’the motherland of football" – will be taking part. At the same time, this approach also shows how professional and complex the involvement of international teams has become. ‘Clubs today carefully examine what to expect – both in terms of sport and organisation,’ says Schneider. Premiere with GNK Dinamo Zagreb GNK Dinamo Zagreb is making its debut. This is the first time a team from Croatia has taken part in the International U19 Tournament in Altstätten. The club from the capital Zagreb is considered one of the largest and most successful clubs in the country and is particularly well known for its youth development work. ‘A new country that we are delighted to welcome – and with it a new football culture,’ says Kevin Steiger, who is responsible for putting the team together together with his father Urs Steiger. The Croatian team is also likely to be interesting from a sporting point of view: ‘In the last three years, the team from Zagreb has been U19 champions twice – so it should be a strong team coming to Altstätten,’ says Steiger. It is precisely this variety that is central to the event, which is considered the largest regular sporting event in the Rhine Valley. South America again on the Gesa South America will be represented again this year. Red Bull Bragantino will be travelling to Altstätten from Brazil in 2026. ‘We are particularly proud that we are always able to bring teams from South America to Altstätten – they have a completely different football mentality to here in Europe,’ emphasises Steiger. Overall, the organising committee is very satisfied with the field. ‘The field of participants is impressive and promises high-quality football once again on 15 and 16 May at the Altstätter Gesa,’ says Steiger. The home team FC Altstätten will also be challenged: the coaching team of Giuseppe Liiro, Benjamin Hasler, Manuel Keller and Samuel Lüchinger has conducted trial training sessions over the past few weeks and defined the tournament squad. ‘An exciting team – we are eager to see how it will fare against the international competition,’ says OC President Urs Schneider. The 18 players consist of five from Altstätten, four each from Montlingen and Widnau, two each from Diepoldsau and Rebstein, and one from Rüthner. Field of participants in the U19 tournament in Altstätten 2026: Newcastle United (ENG), Nottingham Forest (ENG), Red Bull Bragantino (BRA), GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO), Bröndby IF (DEN), Odense BK (DEN), FC St. Gallen 1879 (SUI), FC Altstätten (SUI). Team FC Altstätten Selection: Fionn Kehl, Thierry Langenegger, Kevin Schmitter, Diego Stüdli, Yannic Walser (alle Altstätten), Jamiro Hüsler, Livio Schmid (beide Diepoldsau-Schmitter), Fabio Frei, Lorin Meier, Luca Schmenger, Raffael Wüst (alle Montlingen), Malik Aliev, Alessandro Gottscher (beide Rebstein), Leo Hetzel, Mika Metzler, Finn Metzler, Oltian Shala (alle Widnau) Press release, 9. January 2026 Red Bull Bragantino is the sixth team at the U19 tournament in Altstätten After Newcastle United, Odense BK, Brøndby IF, FC St. Gallen and FC Altstätten, the U19 OC has secured another top-class participant: Red Bull Bragantino. This marks the return of another team from South America to Altstätten. ‘We are delighted to welcome another team from a different continent to the Gesa – and one from a country as football-mad as Brazil,’ says OC President Urs Schneide Brief profile of Red Bull Bragantino The club comes from Bragança Paulista in the Brazilian state of São Paulo and was founded in 1928 as Clube Atlético Bragantino. Its greatest successes include winning the São Paulo State Championship (1990) and finishing as runners-up in the Brazilian Championship (1991). Red Bull took over the club in 2019, and since 2020 it has been competing under the name Red Bull Bragantino. In its first year after the takeover, the club was promoted to Série A, Brazil's top league. Since then, the club has been known for its modern youth development programme, fast-paced play and international ambitions. With Red Bull Bragantino, the U19 tournament in Altstätten not only gains sporting quality, but also international flair and South American football culture at the highest level. Press release, 22 December 2025 Newcastle United to compete in international U19 football tournament for the first time On 15 and 16 May 2026, GESA in Altstätten will once again be the stage for international junior football. The 14th edition of the International U19 Football Tournament is fast approaching – and anticipation is high. Following a successful event last year with over 5,300 spectators, the organisers are keen to further enhance the sporting standard and fan experience. Five top-class teams have already confirmed their participation – including Newcastle United, a club that will be visiting Altstätten for the first time. Proven OK and strong partners The organising committee, headed by Urs Schneider, remains unchanged. The well-coordinated crew stands for continuity, experience and smooth planning. ‘Our team is working flat out to once again deliver a unique football festival. We are delighted that the entire successful 2024 organising committee is back on board. Together with our loyal partners, we are creating an experience for young and old alike,’ says Schneider. There will also be plenty to do off the pitch: the marquee and the raclette hut invite visitors to linger. A beer garden has been added to the mix – perfect for enjoying the special tournament atmosphere between matches. Defending champions and top international teams A glance at the list of participants underscores the international appeal of the tournament. Newcastle United, a youth team from the English Premier League, will be coming to GESA. ‘We are delighted to welcome Newcastle United – a club with an excellent youth programme and a big name in world football,’ says Schneider. Also returning are Danish top clubs Odense BK (defending champions) and Brøndby IF (2024 finalists). ‘The quick confirmations show the appreciation for our tournament and confirm our work,’ says Schneider. Fans will once again have the opportunity to experience future professionals up close. Regional talents in the spotlight Regional young talent remains at the heart of the tournament. Alongside FC St. Gallen, a strengthened selection from FC Altstätten will also be competing. The home team is made up of talented players from across the Rhine Valley – from Rüthi to Au- Berneck. The coaching team led by Giuseppe Liiro, Beni Hasler, goalkeeper coach Samuel Lüchinger and coach Manuel Keller will provide professional support. ‘This is a huge opportunity for our players to compete against top international teams and gain valuable experience,’ emphasises Schneider. Last starting places to be allocated shortly Discussions regarding the remaining three tournament places are in full swing. ‘We are close to finalising agreements with some very interesting teams and are confident that we will soon be able to present a complete, attractive line-up of participants,’ says Schneider. The organisers are once again expecting a large turnout. The International U19 Football Tournament has established itself as a fixture in the regional events calendar – and is one of the last international U19 tournaments in Switzerland. Factbox The Altstätten International U19 Football Tournament takes place every two years and is organised entirely by an independent local organising committee. It is considered the largest regular sporting event in the Rhine Valley and attracts around 5,000 spectators each time. This makes it the only international junior tournament of its kind still in existence in Switzerland – an event that regularly puts Altstätten at the centre of European youth football. Kontakt für Medienanfragen Internationales U19-Fussballturnier Altstätten Dominik Sieber, OK-Mitglied Kommunikation, dominik_sieber@bluewin.ch, 078 662 20 47

Press release, 23 February 2026 Schedule for the 2026 International U19 Tournament is set Last Friday, the traditional draw evening for the International U19 Football Tournament took place at the main sponsor Wüst Metallbau AG. In an atmospheric setting, not only were the team sponsors assigned to the participating teams, but the group divisions and the official match schedule for the preliminary round were also presented. OK President Urs Schneider was very pleased with the strong support from the sponsors: ‘The broad support of our sponsors cannot be taken for granted. Without this commitment, it would not be possible to hold a tournament of this magnitude.’ The organising committee would like to thank all the partners who support the tournament year after year. Another highlight of the evening was the team presentation by tournament organisers Urs Schneider and Kevin Steiger. This clearly demonstrated the status that the tournament has now achieved. The International U19 Tournament is one of the top 10 youth tournaments in Europe and will once again boast an extremely attractive line-up of participants in 2026. Particularly pleasing is the first-time participation of Newcastle United and GNK Dinamo Zagreb, two internationally renowned youth academies. ‘Bringing teams like these to Altstätten is a big challenge every year. It often requires personal visits and intensive discussions. So it's all the more satisfying when this effort pays off,’ says Steiger. In addition to the newcomers, traditional names such as Nottingham Forest, Bröndby IF, Odense BK, Red Bull Bragantino, FC St. Gallen 1879 and FC Altstätten will also ensure high-class international competition and exciting matches. The publication of the match schedule marks the next milestone on the road to the tournament. The organising committee is looking forward to the 2026 International U19 Tournament with great anticipation and expects another high-calibre junior football tournament and a major sporting and social event for the region. >> Match Schedule / Draw