First organized in 2013, the Lotteria Challenge Cup has become a prestigious school football tournament. The 12th edition gathered 62 teams from seven major provinces and cities across Vietnam, including Ha Noi, TP HCM, Can Tho, and Da Nang. The tournament provides a platform for young players to develop their skills and foster a positive sports spirit.

Representatives from schools participating in the Lotteria Challenge Cup 2025 finals. Photo: Lotteria Vietnam.

The national finals took place on 27/12 at the Ha Noi National University of Education stadium, featuring nine outstanding teams from the season. The series of matches showcased intense ball possession, with young players demonstrating improved techniques, fair play, and high discipline.

Tran Van On Primary School secured the championship after a 2-0 victory in the final match. Ngoc Chau Primary School claimed the runner-up position, while An Thinh Primary School and Ngo Gia Tu Primary School finished third and fourth, respectively. Other participating teams received consolation prizes. Additionally, the organizers presented the fair-play award to An Thinh Primary School for their exemplary conduct.

Young players confidently competing on the field. Photo: Lotteria Vietnam.

Beyond fostering sportsmanship and interaction among schools, the Lotteria Challenge Cup 2025 served as a platform for many young football talents to shine. Bach Tan Loc from Tran Van On Primary School and Vu Trung Hieu from Ngoc Chau Primary School shared the top scorer title, each netting 8 goals.

Pham Quoc Vuong from Ngoc Chau Primary School was recognized as the best goalkeeper of the finals, and Ha Niem Tien, coach of Tran Van On Primary School, received the best coach award for the season.

Tran Van On Primary School (TP HCM) receives the championship trophy for the 12th Lotteria Challenge Cup. Photo: Lotteria Vietnam.

Building on the success of previous seasons, the Lotteria Challenge Cup focuses on creating a healthy physical outlet and promoting humanitarian values by awarding educational scholarships to schools whose teams achieve high rankings in the qualifying rounds. Specifically, in Ha Noi and TP HCM, the first-place team received 30 million VND, and the second-place team received 20 million VND. In Can Tho, Da Nang, Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa), Vinh (Nghe An), and Ha Long (Quang Ninh), the first-place teams were awarded 20 million VND.

A representative from Lotteria Vietnam (right) presents an educational scholarship to a representative from An Thinh Primary School (left). Photo: Lotteria Vietnam.

Choi Keeyeoul, General Director of Lotteria Vietnam, stated that these scholarships aim to support children from difficult backgrounds who demonstrate resilience and a passion for football. According to him, the recent tournament final marked a significant milestone in Lotteria's ongoing journey to spread the love for football in Vietnam.

"Over a decade, the Lotteria Challenge Cup has helped nurture the athletic passion of thousands of young players nationwide. The evolution in scale, organizational quality, and depth of the tournament demonstrates our long-term commitment to becoming a brand loved by young diners," a representative from Lotteria added.

Choi Keeyeoul, General Director of Lotteria Vietnam, speaks at the finals. Photo: Lotteria Vietnam.

Lotteria, a subsidiary of the Lotte Group from South Korea, entered the Vietnamese market in 1998. The brand currently operates over 250 stores across 52 provinces and continues to expand its business activities alongside social responsibility programs.

Dan Minh