English – MICFootball

Lamine Yamal & Pau Cubarsí have already made World Cup history at just 19 years old. Still eligible to play at youth level and young enough to have taken part in the latest edition of MICFootball, both players now hold the most prestigious title in world soccer after winning it in the United States just a few days ago.

This duo has become synonymous with success, as the center back and the forward have shared hundreds of matches at FC Barcelona’s youth academy. In fact, they won the MIC together in the U12A category in 2019, defeating Valencia CF 2-0 in Palamós, before lifting the trophy again in 2022 after beating EC Granollers on penalties.

A year later, in 2023, Cubarsí returned to the tournament and won the U19 category while still eligible for the U16 age group, confirming his rapid development through the club’s youth ranks. Lamine, however, had other plans that same April: making his first-team debut for FC Barcelona in a league match against Real Betis at just 15 years and 9 months old.

In 2024, Pau also fulfilled his dream of making his first-team debut for Barça, while Lamine continued to establish himself at the highest level. It was the following season that both players began to secure a place in the Blaugrana starting lineup, as the soccer world started to marvel at their extraordinary rise.

Last March, Cubarsí served as ambassador for the 24th edition of MICFootball, becoming the youngest ambassador in the tournament’s history. Just a few months later, he made history by winning the World Cup alongside his friend Lamine.

Ultimately, two boys who were lifting the MICFootball trophy four years ago while dreaming of becoming professional players reached the very top of world soccer just a few days ago at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. And the best part of this story, which began to be written here, is that their book is still far from finished.

July 19, 2026, will forever be remembered by Spanish fans as the day the Spanish National Team won its second FIFA World Cup, defeating Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

For eighteen of the twenty-six players who are now part of Spanish football history, however, this journey began on the Costa Brava—more specifically, at MICFootball.

In fact, we can now say that the tournament’s three biggest individual award winners all took their first steps at our tournament: Pau Cubarsí (Best Young Player), Rodri (Best Player), and Unai Simón (Best Goalkeeper).

The connection between some of these players and MIC goes beyond their performances on the field. Four members of this World Cup-winning squad have also served as official ambassadors of the tournament in recent years: Álex Baena in 2022, Eric Garcia in 2023, Dani Olmo in 2025, and Pau Cubarsí in 2026.

Another remarkable statistic is that 12 of the 34 players who appeared in the World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina had previously competed in the tournament where the stars of the future are born.

The stories of Unai Simón, Joan Garcia, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Pubill, Marc Cucurella, Eric Garcia, Alejandro Grimaldo, Rodri Hernández, Pedri González, Pablo Páez “Gavi,” Álex Baena, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Borja Iglesias, Dani Olmo, Yeremy Pino, Víctor Muñoz, and Nico Williams all began here.

Ultimately, the dream these young players shared while competing at MIC came true during the summer of 2026 in the United States. They can now proudly call themselves… World Cup Champions!

With months still to go before the start of a new edition, MICFootball already has more than 150 registered teams from 22 different countries, once again confirming its global dimension and its ability to bring together talent from all over the world.

These early figures reflect the enormous interest the event generates year after year. The tournament, held on the Costa Brava, has established itself as one of the most prestigious youth football events, bringing together top-level clubs alongside academies and emerging teams.

In addition, the next edition will carry special significance as the tournament celebrates its 25th anniversary, a milestone that strengthens its legacy as an international benchmark in youth football development.

With several months still ahead, everything points to MICFootball 2027 once again exceeding expectations, offering a unique experience where competition, coexistence and values come together in an incomparable setting.

The road to a historic edition has already begun!

This coming Sunday, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF will battle for the LALIGA title in a clash that always delivers historic moments. However, this rivalry begins in the youth categories, and at MICFootball we have witnessed thrilling matches between the two academies.

Barça and Madrid youth teams have faced each other on nine occasions on the Costa Brava, in high-level matches that decided the U12A MIC category winners. The Blaugrana have won six of the nine finals, while Los Blancos have claimed victory in three.

The most recent meeting took place a month ago in Palamós, where Barça were crowned champions thanks to a headed goal by Marc Ribera. The match featured several promising names worth keeping an eye on: Martín Casillas, Ethan Balboa and David Sánchez for Real Madrid; Destiny Kosiso, Hugo Galdeano and Pedro Juárez for Barcelona.

And the story began here. Gavi and Gonzalo García, two of the players set to take part in this Sunday’s match, know what it means to play in a Clásico at MICFootball. In the image, both academy players were defending their club colors in the 2016 final, which FC Barcelona won 2-0.

In addition, Alejandro Balde, Eric Garcia, Xavi Simons, Sergio Reguilón, Miguel Gutiérrez and Pablo Barrios are other notable names who played a Clásico in the tournament where the stars of the future are born and later reached the highest level of world football.

Throughout its history, MICFootball has showcased the talent of young players who, a few years later, would go on to become global football stars. Leo Messi, Neymar Jr., Carvajal, Rodri, and Lamine Yamal are just some of the stars who shone on the Costa Brava. But it’s not just the players who impress the world and kick off their professional careers here; there are coaches who also leave a permanent mark.

In 2001, during the first edition of the MIC in the Canary Islands, Guillermo Hoyos traveled to the tournament hoping to succeed in a competition that was making its debut. The Argentinian coach was managing CE Mataró at the time, and although they didn’t win the trophy, the team clearly reflected Hoyos’s style.

A few years later, during the 2003–04 season, Guillermo Hoyos joined FC Barcelona’s youth academy as head coach of the Juvenil B team. It was then that he first coached a young player named Leo Messi, who was already making a name for himself in the Blaugrana jersey.

Guillermo Hoyos has coaching experience in various countries, including Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Bolivia, Greece, and Cyprus. However, football brought him back to MICFootball as a Sporting Director with the Inter Miami CF U19 team in 2025 and 2026, with the team being eliminated in a penalty shootout in both appearances.

Just a few days after this 24th edition of the tournament, in which Hoyos participated, the Argentinian is the new head coach of Inter Miami CF’s first team following Javier Mascherano’s departure. In doing so, Guillermo is reunited with a fellow countryman and friend, Leo Messi, with whom he took his first steps in football and with whom he is sure to share great moments in the final stage of his outstanding career.

Photo: Inter Miami CF

Atlético de Madrid secured the double this morning in Palamós with their U18 team’s 1-0 victory over Real Betis.

After a tentative opening few minutes, the Madrid side took control of the game and created the best chances, forcing Betis goalkeeper Víctor Cristian Kroes into action. It wasn’t until the 41st minute that Gonzalo Benito scored the first and decisive goal of the final.

With this title, Atlético now boasts 12 trophies in this prestigious tournament. Atlético striker Brayan de la Cruz was the competition’s top scorer with 8 goals.

UE Quart, a team from the province of Girona, has made history by defeating Deportivo Alavés (1-0) in the final of the 24th edition of the MIC that took place at the Vilatenim Stadium in Figueres.

The current squad that has been proclaimed champion of the U19, has most of the players who won the U18 category last year. The author of the goal, Eudald Morell, was already one of the scorers in the 2025 final, and today he gave the title to his team with a shot from a corner kick.

The Girona team has won all the matches of the tournament and is crowned for the second time in the history of the MIC.

The U16 final at MICFootball 2026 pitted the same teams against each other in the opening friendly match last Wednesday, with Barça securing a 1-0 victory in Vilatenim. Today, the title was decided at the Palamós Municipal Stadium, where Barça emerged victorious after a comeback win against AS Roma (2-1).

Despite having faced each other days ago, the atmosphere today was very different, befitting a MIC final. The Italian side took the lead in the first minute with a goal from Jacopo Vasta. Barça quickly equalized in the 10th minute thanks to a goal from their captain, Hugo Garcés. In the second half, Barça’s dominance overwhelmed the Italians, and Artem Rybak scored the winning goal in the 31st minute.

With this victory, Barça has now won its fourth title in the U16 category in the last five years.

A single goal was enough for Rayo Vallecano to defeat Atlético de Madrid in the U15 final.

The Madrid derby was one of the most evenly matched finals in recent years, played with high intensity but few clear-cut chances for either side. The decisive 1-0 came five minutes from time, in the clearest opportunity of the game. A great passing move inside the area was finished off by David Sánchez. Atlético pressed until the final whistle, but couldn’t find an equalizer.

This is the first MIC title in Rayo Vallecano’s history, who reached the final after eliminating UE Figueres in the semifinals.

Goals from J’Chemaro Severin (2) and Luuk Stinissen, in the second half, allowed AFC Ajax to defeat New York SC and thus be crowned champions of the MICFootball U13 category in the final played in Figueres.

After a fairly even first half, Severin broke the deadlock by finishing off a great team move from inside the penalty area. Two minutes later, the Dutch striker scored his second goal to provide some breathing room, and the decisive goal came in the 35th minute.

Ajax U13 began the tournament with a group stage defeat against UE Quart (2-1), but from then on they demonstrated their full potential, overcoming Taby (3-0) and TSF Academy (6-0) to advance to the Final Phase. Once there, they eliminated Olympique de Marseille in the quarterfinals (1-2) and Valencia in the semifinals (on penalties). And in the final, their solid performance secured them the championship.