Built World Cup 2026 kicks off with more teams, additional sponsor and a new charity partner supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction
The 2026 Built World Cup, a charity football tournament for built world professionals, will take place at Shoreditch Powerleague on Friday 8 May 2026.
Created to raise money for the reconstruction of Ukraine, the tournament is open to mixed-gender teams from across the built environment sector, including architects, developers, engineers, and investors.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural competition, which involved twenty teams raising more than £10,000 for Re:Ukraine, the 2026 tournament will expand to 24 teams, meaning more football, more matches, and an even greater fundraising opportunity.
Last year’s champion, PRP Architects, lifted the coveted Golden Pineapple trophy and were crowned the inaugural champions, while GIA picked up the Plate and Native Land took home the Vase.
The 2026 tournament will be raising funds and awareness for Brave to Rebuild, a charity dedicated to the recovery of towns and villages across Ukraine. It unites the efforts of experts, volunteers, businesses, and the international community to ensure a sustainable future for Ukraine.
As the tournament grows, the Built World Cup team is delighted to add 2025 participant The Goodsyard as a new Host Sponsor. The tournament takes place on the site of The Goodsyard, one of London’s most exciting redevelopment projects being delivered in a joint-venture between Hammerson and Ballymore.
The Goodsyard team performed admirably in the 2025 tournament and could face potential grudge matches in the 2026 version against project architects and fellow competitors FaulknerBrowns and Eric Parry Architects.
The Built World Cup was launched by Tom Hawkins of ING Media and James MacLeod of The Developer/Festival of Place with Lauren Teague and Kimberley France and the generous sponsorship of Louise Constantine at architecture & design recruitment agency The Crowd.
This year’s event builds on the success of 2025, which raised funds for Re:Ukraine, the charitable arm of leading Ukrainian architecture practice balbek bureau, which aims to help rebuild homes that have been damaged or completely destroyed since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
How to enter
To enter, mixed-gender teams must make a donation of £500.
Teams that took part in the 2025 event will receive priority registration for the 2026 tournament, as will teams on the waiting list from last time. There will be an exclusive one-month window until 10 January to secure their place before general entry opens.
To register your interest in entering a team, please use this Eventbrite link.
Prior to the tournament, a group stage draw will be held in late April. All participating teams will be invited to attend.
Alona Krytsuk, Co-Founder & Director, BRAVE to Rebuild, said:
“BRAVE to Rebuild is happy to join the Built World Cup initiative that will help us to fund rehabilitation projects that we are currently running in Ukraine. It is our strong belief that the support of our friends from all over the world, and in particular Great Britain, is the source of our nation's strength and resilience. The need is high and rising, but the reward is priceless - children, who are back to school, families that have a home again instead of one destroyed by bombs. We stand together in this fight for freedom, so please, help us keep on!”
Louise Constantine, co-founder and director of The Crowd, said:
“After a brilliant first Built World Cup we couldn’t wait to come back for 2026. Everyone at The Crowd is so proud to be a part of this fantastic event that raises so much money for such a good cause. Forget the Christmas turkey, we expect all the teams to start training hard for May and look forward to handing out more Golden Pineapples to the best footballers in the business!”
Tom Hawkins, associate director at ING Media and Founder of the Built World Cup, said:
“There’s only one football world cup that matters in 2026 and it’s the Built World Cup. We were overwhelmed by all the positive feedback we had for the first tournament, with everyone insisting we come back again for 2026, so we’ve been counting down the days to this moment.
We are very privileged to be raising money for another fantastic charity in Ukraine that is doing an incredible job in helping people to rebuild their lives and their homes. We’re delighted to have The Crowd return and The Goodsyard join us in our growing list of supporters. Their kind sponsorship helps us to raise more money for charity. Thank you to The Crowd team, Ballymore and Hammerson for your generosity.”