New York and Los Angeles – (September 5, 2025) The National Football League (NFL) and PlayVS today announced the return of the Madden NFL Youth Championship (MYC) for its second season.
Building on the momentum of its inaugural season, the MYC returns with exciting enhancements that elevate the experience for players. This year’s champion will receive a paid trip with a parent/guardian to Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Also, eligibility has been extended to include students in Canada, opening the competition to even more young Madden NFL players.
“I’m thrilled to build on the success of our first MYC, which made esports more accessible to thousands of middle and high schoolers in the US,” said Ed Kiang, vice president of video gaming at the NFL. “With expansion abroad, we can bring more fans the opportunity to experience the excitement of the MYC and further drive our mission of engaging with our sport through the lens of gaming.”
Powered by PlayVS, the MYC brings the excitement of NFL football directly into schools and communities and is open to students in the US and Canada between the ages of 13-18 who are enrolled in middle or high school. The free-to-enter competition gives young players the chance to compete in Madden NFL 26, build connections with their peers, and deepen their engagement with football.
A new and improved tournament structure features a dual-path qualification system that allows students to compete for the grand prize through open tournaments or their official school team.
The Open Tournaments will take place across two qualifiers:
- Qualifier Tournament #1: November 7–9, 2025
- Qualifier Tournament #2: January 9–11, 2026
The top eight finalists from each tournament will earn a spot in the MYC Finals. In parallel, scholastic competitors, those competing through their school’s esports program, will also have the opportunity to qualify for the MYC Finals by winning their state or regional championships via PlayVS’ official league competition. The final tournament will bring together the top 16 qualifier players and top 16 scholastic champions into a 32-player single-elimination bracket held virtually on January 20, 2026.
“The Madden NFL Youth Championship embodies what PlayVS is all about — giving students a chance to connect, compete, and grow through gaming,” said Jon Chapman, CEO of PlayVS. “By expanding eligibility to Canada and introducing both open and scholastic paths to the Finals, we’re creating more opportunities for young players to engage with football in a fun, inclusive, and community-driven way. We’re proud to partner with the NFL to build an experience that brings the spirit of the game to life for the next generation of fans.”
Registration for the MYC Qualifiers is now open. Eligible middle and high school students in the U.S. and Canada are encouraged to visit playvs.com/madden-nfl-youth-championship to learn more and secure their spot in this exciting competition.
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About PlayVS
PlayVS is North America’s leading esports and gaming platform, helping students unlock the many benefits of competitive gaming for students at every level. It offers a comprehensive community where players, coaches, educators, and parents come together to compete, connect, and grow. With the launch of the PlayVS College League (PCL) and the acquisitions of Generation Esports and Playfly College Esports, PlayVS now provides the most comprehensive pathway in scholastic esports, from middle school through college. PlayVS is the official esports partner of the NFHS Network, the Special Olympics, and 40+ state and regional organizations across the U.S. and Canada. To learn more, visit playvs.com.
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