Valencia Cup Girls 2026 to break its international record with ten countries represented
Mexico, Germany, the Netherlands and Northern Ireland will make their debut in the grassroots women’s football tournament, while Italy returns to the city of Valencia
Once again, a new record will be set. Another step forward in the growth of the tournament and the steady improvement of its figures since its inception. The Valencia Cup Girls 2026 will achieve its highest-ever number of represented countries this coming Easter, bringing together players (girls and teenagers up to the Under-19 category), coaching staff and accompanying supporters from different parts of the world. Valencia will become a meeting point for sporting competition and cultural exchange through grassroots football. The international women’s tournament, organised by the Sportea Association, will take place from 2 to 5 April.
For the first time, club teams from countries such as Mexico (1), Germany (2), the Netherlands (1) and Northern Ireland (1) will take part. As a result, four nations will make their debut in an event held in one of Valencia’s main landmarks: the former Turia riverbed, surrounded by bridges and towers that reflect the city’s history. Absent from the 2025 edition, Italy (1) will return to the tournament. In addition, four countries have consolidated their presence in recent years: the United States (5), England (3), Ireland (1) and Norway (5). Spain completes the line-up as host nation. Overall, the tournament will feature teams from Europe and the Americas.
This represents a highly significant milestone. From the very beginning, the organisation set out to promote a women-only football tournament for youth age groups with an international outlook. The early years were heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent waves. However, the number of participating countries has grown steadily over time. The previous best figures were recorded in 2024, with six countries and seven teams, and in 2025, with five countries and nine teams.
The year 2026 brings round numbers: ten nationalities, including Spain, and a total of 20 foreign teams. Overall, 63% of participants will come from outside Spain in what will be the sixth edition of the Valencia Cup Girls. The tournament’s commitment to promoting women’s football with an international character — and all that this entails in terms of experiences and cultural exchange — remains central to the event. “We are very satisfied because the work carried out by the organisation is bearing fruit and the objectives we set ourselves are gradually being achieved. The challenge now is to maintain this upward trend in future editions,” says Fernando Brotons, tournament director.
The event is aimed exclusively at female football categories, both 8-a-side and 11-a-side. The age groups, starting with the youngest players, will be: G12 (born after 1 January 2014, with up to two Under-14 players allowed per team), G14 (born after 1 January 2012, with the option to include two Under-16 players), G16 (born after 1 January 2010, with up to two Under-19 players permitted) and G19 (born after 1 January 2007, with up to four players of unrestricted age). Full structural information about the Valencia Cup Girls can be found here.
The organisation is currently shaping a new edition in which sport, shared experiences and intercultural exchange — driven by the tournament’s international nature — continue to grow year after year. This grassroots sporting event brings together local teams from across the Valencian Community, clubs from the rest of Spain and teams from various countries around the world, as clearly demonstrated in previous editions (in 2025, nearly 700 players competed in the city of Valencia) and once again in the upcoming 2026 edition.
In this context, the tournament is both a sporting and social event that works to raise the visibility of women’s sport through football, promoting core values such as teamwork, fair play, education, healthy competition and personal development within an intercultural environment.
Since its first edition, the Valencia Cup Girls has consistently highlighted the pioneers of women’s football, paying tribute to those who began playing in much more challenging times for women’s participation in the sport. This spirit is reflected in the celebration of the “Referents Match”, a key and institutionalised fixture within the tournament, as consistently emphasised by the organisation.
More information is available on the official website.
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