The Gothia Cup
Since 1975, the Gothia Cup has been held annually in Gothenburg, Sweden, gathering thousands of the world’s finest young football players from over 80 nations. Over the course of one intense week, players compete across multiple venues, facing international opponents while experiencing different footballing cultures, forming friendships, and gaining perspective on the game and life beyond it.
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At just 13 years old, Misha Abarder is a few months away from stepping onto the pitch in Sweden for the 2026 Gothia Youth Cup, the world’s largest and most prestigious youth football tournament.
Misha was selected for the Camps Bay Football Club’s under-16 girls’ squad. She is the youngest player on the team, a distinction that reflects not just her talent, but her composure, resilience, and maturity beyond her years.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” Misha admits. “I knew they usually take under-16s overseas, and when I was told I had been selected, I was overjoyed, but I didn’t expect it at all,” Misha tells .
For Misha, representing South Africa, particularly in a minority sport such as women’s football, her selection validates her years of hard work, dedication, discipline, and perseverance.
From an early age, Misha’s talent and leadership skills were apparent and distinct. In primary school, she made history as the first girl to play on the boys’ under-11 team. She also captained her school’s first-ever girls’ football team, and in 2024, she was named Player of the Year.
Although these achievements are noteworthy, they do not completely represent Misha’s resolve, concentration, and poise on the field.
Misha’s Game: A Centre-Back Beyond Her Years
When I met Misha, we kicked the ball around for a few minutes. It was immediately evident how well she thinks about the game, timing her passes, anticipating movement, and communicating without raising her voice.
Misha carries herself with a poise that is rare for someone so young; it’s easy to see why coaches and teammates respect her leadership.
Misha’s father shares with how football has taught her discipline, teamwork, resilience, and grace under pressure, and how it has given her confidence that has carried over into her academics and leadership.
For Misha, representing her club and country, especially in a minority sport like women’s football, her selection is an affirmation of the many years of hard work, dedication, discipline, and perseverance she has put in.
Misha’s love for the game has become a routine, marked by early mornings on the field, bruises after matches, and the constant need to prove herself as a girl who many admit is better than most boys she has played against.
“She’s plucky, she’s robust, and there’s never a yellow card too far away,” her father, Gasant Abarder, says with a laugh. “But that’s how the game should be played—hard, competitive and intense.”
Misha’s natural position as a centre-back perfectly suits her as she is always in the flow of the game, seeing situations two steps ahead, organising her defence, and guiding her teammates with quiet authority.
Her leadership is modest but powerful, and her commitment to excellence is unwavering. And for those who have watched her develop, the signs have always been clear.
From her early days as the only girl on the pitch, to captaining teams at school and club level, to reading the game as a composed centre-back. She balances football with academics, discipline with enjoyment, and determination with humility.
Gothia: Misha’s Stage for Greatness
The Gothia Cup represents both a challenge and an opportunity for Misha, as the youngest girl in the team. Gothia is a chance to test herself against international opponents, experience different footballing styles, and measure her own development against some of the world’s best young players.
But for Misha, Gothia is more than just football; it offers her an opportunity to represent her club, her community, and her country on a global stage as one of the youngest players.
Misha herself is equally aware of the opportunity before her. “I want to enjoy it, to learn as much as I can, and to give my all for my team,” she says. “It’s not just about winning. It’s about representing everyone who has supported me along the way, from my family to my coaches and teammates.”
Speaking to , Misha’s father maintains the belief that “this trip is more than a tournament. It’s an opportunity for her to develop confidence, leadership skills, and self-assurance. She has the skill, the temperament, and the dignity to make the most of it.”
As she prepares to step onto the fields of Gothenburg, Misha Abarder carries with her the years of hard work, guidance, and quiet courage.
“I can’t wait to see what happens,” she says, eyes bright, already imagining the games, the pitches, and the challenges that await her at the Gothia Cup.
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Helping Misha Reach Gothenburg
While selection for the Gothia Youth World Cup is a significant honour, the journey to Sweden comes with considerable financial demands. The Abarder family is to raise R60,000 to cover travel, accommodation, tournament fees, and related expenses associated with the trip.
To make this opportunity possible, the family has launched a BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign.
Donations can be made on the BackaBuddy page.
