From 13 to 16 August, Madrid will become one of the main meeting points for youth football with a new edition of the BEST CUP, an international U18 tournament bringing together twelve national and international teams at the Ernesto Cotorruelo Football Complex, facilities belonging to the Royal Madrid Football Federation.
This year’s line-up will feature the youth teams of FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF, Atlético de Madrid, FC Porto, Como 1907, Real Betis Balompié, RCD Espanyol, Getafe CF, Chinese Football Boy, Madrid City, UD San Sebastián de los Reyes and AD Unión Adarve.
Over four days, some of the leading academies in Spanish and European football will compete in an environment designed to offer a high-level experience for players, coaching staff and supporters alike.
The BEST CUP is an exclusive and competitive international tournament integrated into the clubs’ preseason schedules. The competition aims to combine high-level sporting demands with the promotion of young talent, while also providing a meeting point for clubs, football professionals and organisations connected to the sports industry.
A showcase for emerging talent
The presence of clubs from Spain, Portugal, Italy and China strengthens the tournament’s international dimension and will bring together different development models and styles of play.
In addition to competing against top-level opponents, players will have the opportunity to demonstrate their development in one of the leading showcases for youth football during the preseason period.
The 2026 edition marks another step forward in the growth of the BEST CUP. In 2025, the tournament expanded from four to eight participating teams and increased its duration to three days. That edition attracted more than 4,500 spectators to the stadium and recorded over 20,000 views through its YouTube broadcasts. RCD Espanyol were crowned champions after competing against teams including FC Barcelona, Villarreal CF, Real Betis and Girona FC.
This year, the competition will expand once again to twelve teams and four days of activity, reinforcing its ambition to become a leading platform for the development and visibility of the best young talent.
A major youth football event in Madrid.
The BEST CUP will be held entirely at the Ernesto Cotorruelo Football Complex, which belongs to the Royal Madrid Football Federation and regularly hosts youth football competitions.
The event is supported by brands and organisations including Radisson RED, bonÀrea, Agència Guinew, Dreamcaster, 11teamsports, Iberia, Sofascore and the Royal Madrid Football Federation, which will contribute to the organisation and promotion of the competition.
