National Football League and PlayVS Launch Second Season of the Madden NFL Youth Championship

NFL expands the Madden NFL Youth Championship with Canadian Eligibility, revamped tournaments and new Grand Prize Super Bowl LX Trip

NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES, Sept. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Football League and PlayVS,a leading amateur esports platform, 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 participants. 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 fans of Madden NFL.

"We're thrilled to build on the success of our first Madden NFL Youth Championship, which made esports more accessible to thousands of middle and high schoolers in the U.S.," 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 gaming."

Powered by PlayVS, the MYC brings the enthusiasm of NFL football directly into schools and communities and is open to students in the U.S. and Canada between the ages of 13-18 who are enrolled in middle or high school. The free-to-enter competition gives youth 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: Nov. 7–9, 2025
• Qualifier Tournament #2: Jan. 9–11, 2026

The top eight finalists from each tournament will earn a spot in the MYC Finals. In parallel, students competing through their school's esports program will 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 Jan. 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 the competition.

Media Contacts: [email protected], PlayVS, [email protected]

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.

SOURCE PlayVS