Valencia Cup Girls 2026 to feature nearly 600 youth players, with around 70% international participation
The women’s youth football (soccer) tournament will stage 73 matches. The event will kick off with an opening ceremony on April 2 at the Luis Puig Velodrome, with matches taking place from April 3 to 5. The “Role Models Match – Laura Mansilla Memorial” will be held on Saturday, April 4
The sixth edition of the Valencia Cup Girls was officially presented this Monday at the Petxina Sports and Cultural Complex, one of the city’s main sports hubs. The 2026 international women’s youth football tournament will run from April 2 to April 5 and is set to reach a new milestone in terms of international participation, with teams from ten different countries competing for the first time.
The presentation event was attended by Valencia City Council’s Sports Councillor Rocío Gil; Provincial Sports Deputy Pedro Cuesta; Director General for Sport of the Valencian Government Luis Cervera; and Tournament Director and founder of the Sportea Association, Fernando Brotons.
The tournament, which focuses on promoting visibility and development in grassroots football, is built on four key pillars: sport, internationalisation, sports tourism, and overall experience. These guiding principles have been present since the competition’s launch in 2021 and are reinforced in 2026 with a record number of participating countries: Germany, the United States, England, Italy, Northern Ireland, Mexico, Norway, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, and Spain.
“Since we took on the challenge of developing this tournament, we have remained committed to the same objectives alongside public institutions, and the year-on-year growth reflects that. Internationalisation is one of the key factors. The evolution has been remarkable: in 2021, we were still limited by the pandemic and unable to host foreign teams; in 2022 we had just one team, from Finland; in 2023, only Norway was represented internationally; in 2024 we reached five countries, and in 2025 four. This year, we welcome nine countries in addition to Spain,” said Brotons.
“This is an event that not only positions Valencia as a city committed to women’s sport, but also reflects the increasing participation of women in football. Our region is above the national average in terms of girls playing the game,” said Sports Councillor Rocío Gil, who also stressed the importance of “joining forces to ensure that successful tournaments and events can continue to grow and contribute to the city’s development.”
Both Luis Cervera and Pedro Cuesta echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of supporting events that promote women’s sport. The Director General reaffirmed institutional backing for the tournament and praised the intercultural sporting and personal experiences it offers, while the Provincial Deputy also underlined the importance of sports tourism as one of the event’s pillars.
Nearly 70% of the teams participating in the Valencia Cup Girls 2026 will come from outside Spain. One notable example is the U16 category, which will consist exclusively of international teams, with eight teams from eight different countries divided into two groups.
From Germany, clubs such as FFC Turbine Potsdam and SG Hohensachsen will participate. Northern Ireland will be represented by South Belfast YFL, while the Netherlands will compete with VV SHO (three teams), and Mexico will be represented by Tijuana FC. These countries are making their debut in the tournament.
At the same time, several countries and clubs have become regular participants. Norway and the United States are the most consistent. The U.S. delegation will include Parkland Soccer Club, Selectivo San Diego (two teams), Rush Select, and DV7 NY, the academy linked to David Villa. A longstanding presence is Norway’s NSU Norsk Spillerutvikling (four teams), joined this year by Team JC. From England, teams will arrive from Leeds Schools FA, Newbury District, and AFC Henley Hunters. The Republic of Ireland will be represented by Kerry Schoolgirls, while Italy will field BS Soccer Team Fasano.
Spanish representation will mainly come from clubs in the Valencian Community. UE L’Alcudia (four teams), the current overall champions, will return to defend their title. Regular participants such as Valencia CF Women, Mislata CF, Tavernes Blanques CF, CD Serranos, and Atlético del Turia CF will also compete, with the latter two also hosting matches.
Some of these clubs are based in areas affected by the severe flooding (DANA) of October 2024. In this context, the organisation also welcomes back the Arrels team, created to represent clubs and towns impacted by the disaster.
Arrels players come from towns such as Paiporta, Guadassuar, Aldaia, Carcaixent, Alzira, Paterna, Corbera, Manises, Alginet, Vilamarxant, Pedralba, La Torre (Valencia), Utiel, and Requena. They are affiliated with clubs including E1 Paiporta, UD Aldaia, CDFB L’Eliana, UD Alzira, CD Camporrobles, and Feme Castellón (futsal), all of which have granted permission for their players to take part. Several registered clubs in the tournament also represent areas affected by the floods.
Role Models Match – Laura Mansilla Memorial
A central highlight of the Valencia Cup Girls is the traditional Role Models Match, which recognises and pays tribute to players from different generations who have helped shape women’s football. This year’s edition will carry special emotional significance, as it will honour Laura Mansilla Plata, a key figure in the history of Levante UD, Colegio Alemán (the origins of Valencia CF Women), and the Valencian regional team. Mansilla passed away in 2017.
The match, open to the public, will take place on Saturday, April 4 at 7:00 PM at the CD Serranos ground.
All 73 matches, including the Role Models Match, will be played at facilities located in the former Turia riverbed, managed by the Valencia Municipal Sports Foundation. The tournament will begin with the opening ceremony on Thursday, April 2 (8:00 PM) at the Luis Puig Velodrome. The group stage will be played on Friday, April 3 and the morning of April 4, with knockout rounds scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Finals will take place on the morning of Sunday, April 5.
Valencia Cup Girls 2026 is ready to kick off with nearly 580 players taking part. As in previous editions, an official app is available to access schedules, results, venues, and more. It can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play by searching “Toursport App” and selecting Valencia Cup Girls 2026. More information is available on the official website.
36