By
Princewill Oviesan Deduke
The countdown to one of Lagos’ most exciting grassroots football competitions has begun, with registration for the 1XCUP 2026 officially opening on June 1 via the tournament’s official website.
A total of 100 teams drawn from the five major zones in Lagos will compete in this year’s edition, which will follow the popular IBILE format. Team distribution across the zones includes 20 teams each from Ikorodu and Badagry, 24 teams each from Ikeja and Lagos Division, and 12 teams from Epe.
The competition will begin with a 20-day qualification phase, where teams will battle within their respective zones for a place in the next round. From this stage, five teams each will qualify from Ikorodu and Badagry, six teams each from Ikeja and Lagos Division, and two teams from Epe—bringing the total number of qualified teams to 24.
These 24 teams will advance to the group stage, where they will be divided into six groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group will automatically progress to the Round of 16, alongside the four best third-placed teams across all groups.
The qualification rounds are scheduled to kick off on July 23, 2026, while the competition will culminate in a grand finale on October 31, 2026.
With its structured format and wide participation, the 1XCUP 2026 promises to be a major platform for grassroots talent discovery and competitive football across Lagos State.
