English – MICFootball

MICFootball 2026 is nearing its registration deadline. Teams have accelerated the registration process this year, securing their place in a tournament that attracts interest from clubs worldwide each year. Now, only a few spots remain available to experience the event.

What is the status of the categories for MICFootball 2026?

No spots available: U19, U18, U16, and U12A categories
Last spots available: U15, U14, U13, and U12B categories
Spots available: F16 (women’s) category

Announcement of confirmed teams

The MICFootball Instagram channel has been posting the confirmed teams for the 2026 edition daily for several weeks. You can see the club’s crest and country of origin in the Highlights. Additionally, All the team crests appear on the website.

It’s been a big week at the MICFootball offices. Four of the world’s best clubs have confirmed their participation in the 2026 edition (March 31st – April 5th).

Liverpool, Real Madrid, Olympique de Marseille, and Bayer Leverkusen will be part of a growing roster.

Real Madrid will be playing in the tournament for the twenty-first time. The Whites, who have won a total of 11 titles on the Costa Brava, will return to MIC with the aim of continuing their successful tradition in youth football. The Real Madrid youth academy, renowned for its ability to produce talents who go on to shine at the elite level, will be one of the tournament’s big draws.

Another Premier League team joining the tournament is Liverpool FC, another regular in recent years (this will be their seventh consecutive edition). The Anfield club will bring the intensity and competitive spirit that characterize its academy. The Reds will be looking for their second title after winning in 2019.

Bayer Leverkusen, who debuted in the MIC universe this summer at the Punta Cana edition, will be participating in MICFootball Spain for the first time, which marks a milestone for the tournament. The German team, famous for its focus on developing young players and its commitment to emerging talent, will add the German seal of discipline and quality.

Finally, Olympique de Marseille, one of France’s most iconic clubs and 2022 winners of the U15 category, will participate again.

The list of confirmed teams for MICFootball 2026 is growing as the weeks go by. Once again, the Costa Brava will enjoy the best youth football in the world between 31st march and 5 april of the upcoming year.

Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Sevilla FC and Sporting Clube de Braga have been added to the list of teams already confirmed.

Until today, the Premier League is the most represented league with three clubs: Manchester United, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace. On the other hand, there are a total of five confirmed leagues that already have at least one representative: Sevilla FC (La Liga), AC Milan (Serie A), Sporting Clube de Braga (Primeira Liga), AFC Ajax (Eredivisie) and Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukrainian Premier League).

Don’t miss out! Register now at micfootball.com and play against the best in the tournament where the future stars are born. We will soon announce more confirmed clubs on our social media channels!

2023, 2024 and 2025: Aitana Bonmatí did it again. The Barça player was named the world’s best footballer for the third consecutive year, and the entire world of football once again surrendered to her magic and talent.

Today, no one has more Ballon d’Or awards than her in the women’s category (3).

The Théâtre du Châtelet admired an impeccable speech by the Catalan midfielder, who remembered her teammates from both club & national team, the other Ballon d’Or nominees and made a reference to the organization for including – for the first time in history – the same awards in the women’s category as in the men’s.

Aitana and the MIC are a combination that goes beyond football: she was the MICFootball’s ambassador in 2022 alongside Nico González (Manchester City) and represents the values that our tournament wants to promote to the world: respect, inclusion, honesty, professionalism and camaraderie.

Congratulations, Aitana!

Confirmations continue for the world’s top clubs for MICFootball 2026. A few days ago, we announced AC Milan, and today we can reveal three more teams that will be on the Costa Brava from March 31 to April 5, 2026. Ajax, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Manchester United will be part of the tournament lineup.

Ajax, world-renowned for its prolific youth academy, will return to MICFootball with the mission of once again showcasing the emerging talent of its academy. In 2025, they reached the semifinals of the U12B category (7-a-side football), losing in a penalty shootout to RCD Espanyol. Ajax will participate in the MIC for the 16th time in its history.

On the other hand, Manchester United, one of the most successful clubs in the world, will once again rely on MICFootball as the ideal setting for its young talents to compete against top-level international teams. The Red Devils will thus have won 22 consecutive editions (they have only missed out on those in 2001 and 2002).

Shakhtar Donetsk completes this trio of confirmations. Its commitment to grassroots football is one of the strongest in Eastern Europe, and its presence in the tournament will further consolidate the championship’s global dimension. Sixth participation, third consecutive for the Ukrainians.

With these three clubs, MICFootball 2026 reaffirms its status as an international showcase for future stars. The tournament will continue to be an unmissable event for those who wish to see up close the talents who will shape world football in the coming years. There are still places available!

AC Milan has officially confirmed its participation in the 2026 edition of MICFootball, the international youth football tournament to be held on the Costa Brava.

The Italian club had already taken part in MICFootball in the 2023 and 2024 editions, showcasing both the high competitive level of its academy and the strength of its player development project. Its return in 2026 highlights the strategic importance that the organization places on this event, regarded as one of the most significant international platforms for the promotion of young football talents.

Throughout its history, MICFootball has brought together academies and national teams from around the world, offering a unique space where sport, education, and the values promoted by football converge. AC Milan’s participation in the upcoming edition stands as recognition of the tournament’s organizational quality and represents an opportunity to strengthen ties between institutions that share the vision of fostering emerging talent.

The MICFootball organization has expressed its satisfaction at once again welcoming the presence of the Milanese club, emphasizing that its participation helps raise the sporting level of the competition and further consolidates the tournament’s international positioning.

With this announcement, MICFootball sets the course towards its 24th edition, which promises to be an exciting one, ensuring a top-level competitive environment and reaffirming its commitment to the future of world football.

The summer of 2025 has seen significant moves among players who once played for MICFootball. These include MICPlayers names such as Marcus Rashford, Álex Baena, Xavi Simons, Arnau Tenas, João Félix, Miguel Gutiérrez, and Rodrigo “Roro” Riquelme.

Marcus Rashford joined FC Barcelona on loan in July and enters the start of the season hoping to regain his best form in LaLiga. Álex Baena officially left Villarreal to join Atlético de Madrid in a move the Red and White club presented as a bid to strengthen its midfield.

Xavi Simons was one of the signings of the final stretch of the transfer window, signing for Tottenham Hotspur, a deal announced at the end of August that reinforces the English club’s attacking ambitions. Meanwhile, Arnau Tenas, a goalkeeper trained in the Barça youth system and who also played for PSG, has joined Villarreal in search of more continuity.

On the international front, João Félix finalized his move to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr at the end of July and has already started to find the net in his first matches. Miguel Gutiérrez, a left-back who excelled last season, signed for Napoli in August, in a move that confirms Serie A’s interest in young Spanish full-backs (Alex Valle to Como).

Finally, “Roro” Riquelme left Atlético de Madrid and signed for Real Betis in July, seeking a greater role in LaLiga.

Other MICPlayers movements

Borja Iglesias (Celta de Vigo)
Jarrell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Joan Garcia (FC Barcelona)
Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace)
Ansu Fati (AS Monaco)
Robert Navarro (Athletic Club)
Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United)
Pau López (Real Betis)
Raúl Moro (AFC Ajax)
James McAtee (Nottingham Forest)

MICFootball 2026 is already starting to break records months before the ball even rolls. The organizers of the international youth football tournament have confirmed that more than 300 teams from different countries have completed their registration, a fact that heralds another historic edition on the Costa Brava.

Established as one of the world’s largest showcases of young talent, the MIC (Mediterranean International Cup) will once again bring together thousands of footballers between March and April 2026. Training schools, elite academies, and professional clubs will converge on an event that, year after year, becomes a meeting point between youth teams and the future of world football.

“The fact that we have surpassed 300 registered teams at this point is extraordinary news. It reflects the trust that clubs and families place in MICFootball, and motivates us to continue working,” explained the tournament management. The goal is to exceed the 400 participating teams mark, something considered feasible given the pace of registrations.

The tournament will once again feature representation from around the world, with a special presence of European, American, and Asian clubs. Along with the youth teams of professional teams, international academies are expected to participate, making their debut in this edition, thus expanding the championship’s global reach.

MICFootball has become an unbeatable platform for discovering future stars: names like Leo Messi, Neymar Jr., Marcus Rashford, and Pedri participated in its youth categories before shining at the elite level.

With several months to go until its kickoff, MICFootball 2026 already promises to exceed all expectations and reinforce its status as a benchmark tournament on the global grassroots football calendar.

The latest edition of MICFootball, held from April 15 to 20 on the Costa Brava, marked a turning point in the history of grassroots football. The creation of the exclusive MICFootball TV channel, thanks to a strategic alliance with E+, ATM MEDIA’s OTT platform, allowed the tournament to implement an automated audiovisual coverage system powered by artificial intelligence in 10 venues, offering matches live and on-demand.

The commitment to digitalization was a resounding success, providing coverage of nearly 400 matches over five days. And with remarkable numbers: 400,000 views with 24,000 registered users from 89 different countries. 37% of users came from Spain, with the United States (15%) and Brazil (10%) completing the podium. In addition to these figures, more than 16 million hours of play were recorded, reflecting the enormous interest and engagement generated by the tournament internationally.

“In an increasingly digital world, we were clear that we had to make a firm commitment to television. The creation of an OTT platform allows us to host all the tournament matches in a single space, offering viewers an experience tailored to the tournament and opening a door to exposure for brands. The visibility we have achieved this year is the path we must follow for the future. Our ambitious goal is to eventually broadcast live all 1,000 matches played each Easter,” said David Bellver, president of MICFootball.

For his part, ATM MEDIA’s business director, Matteo Samaranch, stated that “collaborating with MICFootball has been an exceptional opportunity to demonstrate the impact of technology on grassroots sports. We have enabled thousands of families, fans, and scouts around the world to follow the tournament in real time. This partnership confirms that the digitalization of sports expands audiences and generates value for local communities and the development of young talent.”

In addition to strengthening its global leadership in the world of grassroots football, this transformation had a direct impact on the region. The digitalization of MICFootball, thanks to the European Union’s “Last Mile” program funded by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, boosted the international visibility of the province of Girona, also offering the possibility for many local entities to access the streaming service in the long term.

With this historic edition, MICFootball ushers in a new era in the way we experience, follow, and share youth sports.

About MICFootball: MICFootball is one of the most prestigious grassroots football tournaments in the world. Every year it brings together elite teams and academies from all continents, offering a unique platform for the development of young talent. MICFootball has been held since 2001 and stands out for its organization, international reach, and commitment to the values of sport.

About E+: E+ is an OTT platform specializing in the broadcasting of semi-professional, amateur, women’s, and adaptive sports. Its mission is to democratize access to sports through digital visibility and technological innovation. Managed by ATM MEDIA, a company founded in 2021 with operations in Europe, Latin America, and Africa, E+ offers an automated production experience using AI-powered cameras, revolutionizing the sports content ecosystem.

A goal from midfield gave UE Figueres the victory, which lifted the U19 youth category title after narrowly beating Deportivo Alavés (1-0).

The duel was fairly even, with the team from Empordà holding up very well in defense and their rival having more of the ball, but without creating any clear chances to try to unbalance the score. Until the 44th minute, when there was only half a dozen minutes left, Èric Torres saw the rival goalkeeper advance and tried his luck from midfield with a first-touch shot that ended up going into the back of the goal.

Despite losing the opening match against Villarreal CF, UE Figueres qualified for the final phase. There, they eliminated FC Sant Pere Pescador and Impactus Football consecutively on penalties, before beating CF Les Franqueses and ESS in the subsequent rounds.

Announcement of confirmed teams

Other MICPlayers movements

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