Youth Cup 2026: skills test at the T-kwadraatplein with 360-cam, arcade and a once-in-a-lifetime vibe

For the third year in a row, we got to run the entire side event for the Youth Cup. And honestly: “side event” sounds like it’s just an afterthought… until you’re standing there among 40 teams from 5 countries, more than 400 young people (and feel free to include the parents).

Then you understand: this is not a break program. This is continuous movement. Continuous energy. Continuous people who have just finished playing and want to experience something again immediately.

A once-in-a-lifetime experience: that is exactly what we focus on.

What do we consider most important? That everyone who steps off the pitch immediately feels: I am part of something big. Not just matches, but atmosphere. Not just scores, but memories.

And that is exactly what Showcase Basketball stands for: that once-in-a-lifetime experience that you can't replicate “later.”

This year we didn't lay down a basketball half-court. We went for something else. Something that automatically makes you think: okay, I want to try this too.

We transformed the entire T-kwadraatplein into a real Youth Cup skills test.

How fast are you?

How high do you jump?

How accurate is your shooting?

How agile are you?

And most importantly: what are your skills when it really matters?

Full-color skills card (on metal): your moment, take it home immediately

And this is where it really became next level for many players (and parents). Because those scores didn't just disappear onto a scrap of paper. Everything went onto a skills card: with real scores and a cool photo of that moment.

And not “email later” or “send next week”… no: full color, on location, printed on a metal card.

That is the Showcase Basketball touch: you come to do something, but you also go home with something. A tangible Youth Cup 2026 moment.

A day like this sometimes seems like it's 'just set up and go,' but this starts weeks in advance. Script, schedule, checklists: Noël really did a strong job here.

And yes… we literally take half the store with us. Because if someone wants a ball, or clothing, or an accessory on a day like that, you want them to be able to take it with them immediately.

Result: two buses full. Packed. Exactly as it should be.

Being visible = building trust (40 banners later…)

Once we arrived, everything was set up fairly quickly. Only one thing took (as always) just a little extra time: our visibility.

We had about 40 pop-up banners and beach flags there. Why? Because you want people to understand immediately:

who we are

what we do

and that we are there for them

And honestly: once everything was in place, the square immediately felt like a mini Showcase world.

Arcade, 360-cam, and just playing football in between.

In between the measuring, of course, people also played on the basketball hoops outside. And meanwhile, the square remained full: young people coming to pick up their cards, parents taking photos, and teams challenging each other.

The arcade machine? As expected: a non-stop hit.

And the 360-cam delivered exactly the footage you'll laugh about later (and are secretly proud of too). People seized their moment—together or solo—and made Youth Cup 2026 even more unforgettable.