FC Porto won the BEST CUP 2026 with a 2-1 victory over RCD Espanyol in the final at Madrid’s Ernesto Cotorruelo Football Complex. The Portuguese side enjoyed a flawless campaign, winning all four of their matches to take the trophy from the 2025 champions.
The final rounded off four days of international under-18 football and marked another major step forward for the BEST CUP. The tournament grew from eight to twelve teams, expanded from three to four days and welcomed clubs and academies from Spain, Portugal, Italy and China for the first time.
This year’s line-up featured FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF, Atlético de Madrid, FC Porto, Como 1907, Real Betis Balompié, RCD Espanyol, Getafe CF, Chinese Football Boy, Club Madrid City, UD San Sebastián de los Reyes and AD Unión Adarve.
Bringing together some of the leading academies in Spain and across Europe produced a consistently high standard of football throughout the event. Each team played four or five preseason matches, giving the players an opportunity to test themselves against different footballing cultures and development systems ahead of the new campaign.
FC Porto booked their place in the final with a 2-1 win over Real Madrid CF, while RCD Espanyol beat FC Barcelona 1-0 in the other semi-final. Porto then secured another 2-1 victory in the final to complete an unbeaten run and lift the trophy.
FC Barcelona finished third after beating Real Madrid 1-0 in the third-place play-off. The final podium therefore saw FC Porto take first place, followed by RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona.
Tcherno Jamanca was one of the tournament’s standout performers. The FC Porto forward scored six goals in four matches and was named the BEST CUP 2026 MVP after playing a leading role in his team’s title-winning campaign.
The tournament also featured one of the most anticipated fixtures in academy football: an under-18 Clásico between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. The rare opportunity to see Spain’s two biggest clubs meet at this age level became one of the highlights of the event and added further prestige to the competition.
The BEST CUP 2026 also delivered record numbers away from the pitch. More than 6,500 spectators attended matches across the four days, while the tournament’s live broadcasts attracted over 80,000 views. Content from the event generated more than 11 million social media impressions.
These results represent substantial growth compared with 2025 and underline the BEST CUP’s continued development on and off the pitch. With more teams, a broader international line-up and a growing audience, the tournament is establishing itself as a key meeting point for leading academies and a valuable platform for the next generation of football talent.
