This Sunday, a new journey begins in the Junior Sub-14 Liga with the opening day of the 2026 tournament. In Sub-12 (2024), he scored eight goals in seven matches. The second is Nicolás Suárez, a key offensive player for the Instituto Panamericano. This year, they will attempt to achieve a back-to-back championship, a feat only accomplished by the Brader Raiders (2022-2023) in this category. The returning talents. When reviewing the names that are returning, two stand out immediately. The first is Lucas González, a forward from La Salle, who formed a key duo en route to the title last year. Football is cyclical at these ages, with teams constantly changing from one season to the next. The 2012 and 2013 generations meet again after having played in the Junior Sub-12 Liga in the second half of 2024. After falling just short in 2022 and 2024, they reached the top in 2025 by defeating AIP 2-0 in the final. After falling just short of the final in 2022 and 2023, they made the leap in 2024 by conquering the title. A lineup of six matches will open the season at Yappy Park in Paseo del Norte. Favorites and contenders. When it comes to youth football—especially in categories like Sub-14—looking only at the previous year is not always enough. In 2025, they came close to repeating their success, and now they will seek to play in a third consecutive final to solidify their legacy. Meanwhile, the Spartans from Colegio La Salle have also made their mark recently. Everything points to him being one of the names to follow. Key tournament dates. • Opening day: Sunday, April 12 • Group stage: April 12 to May 24 • Quarterfinals: Sunday, May 31 • Semifinals: Sunday, June 7 • Grand Final: Saturday, June 13. Opening day schedule. This is how the opening day will be played this Sunday, all from Yappy Park in Paseo del Norte: • Colegio de Panamá vs. International School of Panama – 8:30 a.m. • Panamerican School vs. Instituto Enrico Fermi – 9:30 a.m. • Academia Interamericana vs. Instituto Atenea – 10:30 a.m. • Smart Academy vs. Metropolitan School – 11:30 a.m. • Instituto Panamericano vs. Thomas Jefferson School – 12:30 p.m. • Colegio Brader vs. Colegio La Salle – 1:30 p.m. With generations that already know each other, established contenders, and emerging talent in every team, the Junior Sub-14 Liga kicks off with an open scenario where any detail can mark the course of the championship. In the last season, he scored four goals in six matches, but in Sub-12 (2024) he signed 12 goals in eight games. However, the nature of student football makes any early prediction uncertain. On that occasion, the Eagles from Colegio de Panamá were crowned champions after defeating the Green Panthers from Instituto Panamericano in a penalty shootout. From the start, these two teams are positioned as the main candidates, along with the Fighting Owls from Academia Interamericana and the Spartans from Colegio La Salle. The panorama will become clearer as the weeks go by. AIP and La Salle, between legacy and ambition. The Fighting Owls from Academia Interamericana have built a competitive identity in the category.
