Fifth edition of Madrid Football Cup under-12 tournament kicks off in Paracuellos

The fifth edition of Madrid Football Cup under-12 tournament kicks off in Paracuellos with elite academies including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Porto and international teams.

The fifth edition of the Madrid Football Cup under-12 tournament is launching in Paracuellos de Jarama with a strong lineup of youth academies. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Porto, Rayo Vallecano and Valladolid will compete alongside local clubs Sport Paracuellos, Colegio Miramadrid and Paracuellos MX, plus teams from England, Norway, Romania and South Africa.

The tournament emphasizes collective values over individual achievement, awarding prizes for team performance, defensive work, fair play and coaching staff effort rather than MVP, top scorer or best goalkeeper awards. Tournament director Chema Romero explained the competition is the first stage of a multi-year development pathway, with participants progressing through children's, youth and junior tournaments in subsequent seasons.

MARCA director Juan Ignacio Gallardo highlighted the importance of supporting grassroots football, noting that elite success always begins at the base level. The tournament, delayed by the pandemic, has already seen young talents from previous editions advance through top European academies.