South-East franchise nominated for three seperate national awards

A franchise in the South-East of Ireland has been nominated for three seperate national awards…

The Soccer Strars franchise is owned by Larissa Lima, and it’s aimed at children aged between 1.5 and 5 years old.

It has been making waves across the South East since it first launched in October 2024.

In just one year, the Soccer Stars business has expanded to 11 locations.

This includes seven schools in County Wexford (Kilanerin, Wexford, Killenagh, New Ross, Kiltealy, Ferns, and Enniscorthy), two in County Waterford (Cappoquin and Waterford), and two in County Wicklow (Greystones and Bray).

On Friday, Feb 20th 2026, Soccer Stars revealed that they have been nominated for three awards at the upcoming Irish Franchise Association Awards.

They include nominations for: ‘Franchise of the Year – Non Food’, Franchise of the Year – Expanding’ and also Emerging Franchise of the Year’.

Speaking on the nominations, Larissa said:

“We’re incredibly proud to announce that Soccer Stars has been named a finalist in not one, but three categories at the 2026 Irish Franchise Awards. his recognition reflects the passion of our coaches, the dedication of our franchise partners, and the trust of the thousands of families who choose Soccer Stars every week.”

“From grassroots beginnings to national expansion, our mission has always been the same — helping children grow in confidence through football while building successful local businesses across Ireland,” Larissa said.

In October 2025, we caught up with the Soccer Stars business owner to discuss the expansion, hopes for the future, and the difficulties faced in business.