KUCHING: A total of 34 teams will compete in the 3rd Edition of the Sarawak Inter-School Futsal Championship 2026, set to take place across two venues on Apr 11 and 12.
The under-17 tournament will start with group stage matches at Arena Sukan Simpang Tiga on the first day, before moving to Stadium Tertutup Samarahan for the knockout rounds through to the final.
Organising chairman Sylvester Lim Kai Bin said the decision to utilise two venues was made to better accommodate the increasing number of participating teams while maintaining a high standard of competition.
“With 34 teams involved this year, we had to ensure the quality of play remains high while managing the match schedule efficiently.
“That’s why we decided to split the venues between the group and knockout stages,” he told Sarawak Tribune recently.
He added that school commitments were also taken into consideration when planning the tournament schedule, allowing teams to balance both academic and sporting responsibilities.
According to Sylvester, the championship has continued to grow since its inception, with more schools showing interest and raising the overall level of competition.
“For the group stage, matches will be held in a more controlled environment, while the knockout rounds at Samarahan will provide a bigger stage for the teams as the competition intensifies,” he added.
Attractive prizes await the top teams, with the champions set to receive RM1,200 in cash, along with a trophy and medals. The runners-up will take home RM500, while the third-placed team will earn RM250, both also receiving trophies and medals.
Teams finishing from fourth to eighth place will not go home empty-handed, as organisers have prepared consolation trophies.
Individual accolades will also be up for grabs, including awards for the top scorer and best player, with the latter receiving sponsored gear.
Sylvester noted that the prize pool has been increased compared to last year, when the champions received RM1,000, reflecting the tournament’s continued growth and stronger support.
