THE KFC International Secondary School Football tournament is poised for its biggest-ever staging after youth sides from Brazil and The Bahamas were officially confirmed to join the sixth annual Under-18 event in Guyana.

The expanded competition, announced at the official launch this week, will run from December 14 to 21, and will transform Georgetown into a regional football hub, hosting eight schools across six nations, all competing for the coveted title.

The addition of two major international teams instantly raises the competitive ceiling. Making their tournament debuts are Brazil’s State School Monteiro Lobato and the Bahamas’ Anglican Central Education Authority.

They join regional heavyweights from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Suriname, ensuring a truly international flavour. The tournament will operate a tight round-robin knockout format, split into two groups, with matches held at the Ministry of Education Ground and the Queen’s College Ground.

Defending champions Chase’s Academic Foundation (Guyana) and local rivals Annai Secondary will lead the home charge, alongside Jamaican giants Kingston College. Deputy Chief Education Officer Marti DeSouza issued a clear warning to the local sides: “They will have to bring their A-Game, given the quality of the incoming international teams,” he declared.

Beyond the trophy, the tournament’s biggest draw remains its ability to transform futures. Troy Mendonca, co-director of the Petra Organisation, confirmed the event’s vital role as “a pathway to scholarship”, a route successfully used by past players.

This ambition is backed by major infrastructure investment. Paul Subryan, CEO of KFC Guyana highlighted the commitment, revealing a substantial investment of more than G$25 million dedicated to constructing prefabricated bleachers at the main Ministry of Education Ground venue.

“This tournament is going places, and we have gone International,” Subryan declared. “It gives young people a chance to live their dreams.”

The team everyone is targeting is Chase’s Academic Foundation. They secured the fifth KFC title last year in a final defined by excruciating drama against St. Benedict’s College of Trinidad and Tobago.

Following the opening round of fixtures, all teams will participate in a special cultural showcase, celebrating the diversity of the participating nations.