Preparations ongoing as the Kashif and Shanghai tournament returns to Linden

Co-director Kashif Muhammad says the organising team is already in full preparation mode for the return of the Kashif and Shanghai football tournament to Linden, with site visits to key venues forming part of the early groundwork.
The Kashif and Shanghai Organisation’s “A-Team” inspected the Mackenzie Sports Stadium and Bayrock National Stadium on Wednesday, as preparations gather momentum for the 2026 tournament, which is scheduled to kick off on Sunday, December 13.
The visits focused on assessing the facilities and reviewing logistics, venue operations and other requirements necessary for the successful staging of the tournament.

Speaking during the visit to the Mackenzie Sports Stadium, Kashif Muhammad said the purpose of the exercise was to ensure that the entire organising team shared a common vision ahead of what he described as an ambitious return to Linden.
“Today we’re here putting together the Kashif and Shanghai tournament. As you all know, the tournament will be starting on Sunday the 13th of December 2026, and I and Shanghai, we’re here with our team, the A-team, just to get everything organised,” Muhammad said.
He explained that the team was examining the details at each venue before moving on to the next stage of preparations.
“We’re coming back to Linden, and we’re coming and doing something really, really, really huge,” Muhammad said. “Today we’re doing a site visit where we are at McKenzie Sports Stadium, and we’re coming to discuss all the details and all the logistics in putting it together.”
Following the inspection at Mackenzie, the organising team proceeded to Bayrock National Stadium to conduct a similar assessment.
Muhammad said the early start to preparations was intended to ensure that the tournament is properly organised and that the venues are ready to accommodate the competition when it begins in December.
“We have to do the same thing there, check the venue out, check out and see all the logistics of it, and we’re having a fantastic start,” he said.
With the tournament still several months away, the organisers have already begun putting the necessary structures in place as the Kashif and Shanghai competition prepares for another chapter in its long-standing football tradition.
He urged supporters to look forward to the tournament, adding, “Look forward for us; we’re coming in December, so we’re up and running right now.”