The Valencia Cup Girls 2025 is now ready for its fifth edition with players from five countries
The international women's youth soccer tournament will be held from April 17 (opening ceremony) to April 20, with nearly 700 players, 40 teams, 82 matches, and the traditional Referentes match. In addition, Arrels will compete in the under-19 category with players from clubs and/or localities affected by COVID-19
The Valencia Cup Girls 2025 presented the fifth edition of the international women's youth soccer tournament this Wednesday at the Petxina Cultural Sports Complex. This year's championship will feature nearly 40 teams, representing clubs from five countries: the United States, England, the Republic of Ireland, Norway, and, of course, Spain. Nearly 700 players will compete in the city of Turia in the four categories organized for this established but constantly growing sporting and tourism event, which will be held from April 17 (with the opening ceremony at the Luis Puig Velodrome at 7:30 p.m.) to April 20.
The tournament presentation included speakers from Mariángeles Vidal, manager of the Valencia Municipal Sports Foundation; Luis Cervera, Director General of Sport for the Valencian Regional Government; Begoña Cano, head of sports communications and sponsorship for Teika; and Fernando Brotons, tournament director for the Sportea Association, organizer of the Valencia Cup Girls, which also has the support of the Valencia Provincial Council through its sports department.
The women's youth football championship will feature nearly 700 players across the four categories that make up the tournament: U12 (U8), U14 (U11), U16 (U11), and U19 (U11). 82 matches will be played (36 on Thursday the 18th, 32 on Friday the 19th, and 10 on Sunday the 20th), organized through a group stage, A and B playoffs, and finals. The Valencia Cup Girls will be held on five municipal fields in the city of Valencia: Pont de Fusta, Serranos, Puente de la Exposición, Tramo II, and Doctor Lluch.
For the manager of the Municipal Sports Foundation, Mª Ángeles Vidal, "the values and pillars that represent this tournament are the same as those of the city of Valencia." “I want to thank and acknowledge the care with which you approach organizing a tournament like this; and highlight the thoughtfulness you will show to those affected by Dana. Thank you very much for not forgetting them,” said Mª Ángeles Vidal during the presentation ceremony.
The entire event can be followed through the official app for both Android and iOS by downloading the free TOURSPORT RESULTS APP and selecting Valencia Cup Girls 2025.
The Teams
The Rush Select 10 returns to Valencia from North America; Norsk Spiller Utvikling (NSU) from Norway will also be present, with four teams competing in four of the tournament's categories. A strong performance in each segment will give them a chance to win the trophy as overall champion. Kildare & District UL, a debutant in the VCG, will participate from Ireland with two teams (U14 and U16). This year, the fifth edition of the VCG, England will be making its debut, represented by Heswall Juniors - Hornet and the Steven Gerrard Academy (in the U19 category), the academy of the legendary Liverpool and England captain.
A dozen foreign teams will be vying for titles in the various categories, while the Spanish teams will try to keep their home ground. Both Valencia CF, the reigning champions of the tournament, and Levante UD, who had won the title in the first three consecutive editions, will continue to support the Valencia Cup Girls. However, the two clubs with the most teams represented this time around are Mislata CF and UE L'Alcudia, with four each. They are followed by CFF Marítim, a traditional presence in the tournament, and Atlético Vallbonense with three.
Meanwhile, Tavernes Blanques CF, with two teams, returns to a championship that already saw the triumph of one of its categories in the first edition. In addition, Atlético del Turia CF, Burriana FB, CD Serranos, CF Cracks, CF Malvarrosa, Malilla CD, Sagunto FB, and UD Paterna will be represented.
Additionally, in the U-19 category, the tournament will feature the Arrels team, a combined team of players representing clubs and/or towns affected by Dana, with the support of Teika.
The Arrels players come from towns such as Paiporta, Aldaia, Carcaixent, Alzira, Paterna, Vilamarxant, Corbera, Paterna, Manises, Alginet, and La Torre (Valencia), and come from clubs such as E1 Paiporta, Paiporta CF, UD Aldaia, Discóbolo de La Torre, CDFB L'Eliana, CD Pedralba, UD Alzira, Inter de Xàtiva, Silla CF, and Feme Castellón futsal team.
Tribute to the Leaders and Key Figures in Valencian Women's Football
Furthermore, one of the key events in the tournament program will be the Legends exhibition match. This All-Star game, as in previous editions with the support of Teika, will bring together players who were pioneers and leaders at different stages in the development and brilliance of women's football. This time, players affected by Dana will also be included. The match, supported by Teika, will take place on Saturday, April 19, at 6:30 p.m., at the Serranos stadium. Subsequently, at the Leaders dinner, essential figures in the history of Valencian women's football will be honored, such as Dolores Escamilla, Pepe Ibáñez, and Paco Polit. Their families, as well as Antonio Descalzo and Pedro Malabia, will pay tribute to their memory.
"It is an honor for Teika to collaborate, one more year, in this fifth edition of the Valencia Cup Girls tournament, a competition that is not only an international women's football tournament but is also a great opportunity to continue giving visibility to women's football, demonstrate the talent of the players and create role models for boys and girls," said Begoña Cano, while emphasizing that "one more year, from Teika we sponsor the team of the leaders, those veteran players who are the ones who started the path and those who have been opening doors so that today, a tournament like this can be held."
History of the Five Editions
What is the total number of participants for the five editions so far, with the participation numbers already confirmed for this fifth edition? 170 different teams, 9 countries represented by each club (Spain, the United States, Canada, England, Northern Ireland, Norway, Italy, Austria, and Finland), 3,400 players, 377 matches, and 8,000 direct overnight stays.
The Valencia Cup Girls, organized by the Sportea Association with the support of Valencia City Council, the Valencia Provincial Council, and the Sports Community of the Valencian Regional Ministry of Sport, is a sporting and social event that works to raise the profile of women's sport through football, embracing fundamental values such as camaraderie, fair play, development, healthy competition, and personal experiences. It has an international character and strives to have teams from all over the Valencian Community, given its roots and roots, from the rest of Spain and from various countries around the world. In addition to institutional support, it has the backing of companies with a clear commitment to promoting women's sports, such as Teika.
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