If you run or are involved with a kids football team, through a school or otherwise, you might want to consider travelling to and taking part in an international football tournament. You can only imaging the challenge and excitement that comes with taking part in a top European football tournament. What an amazing experience this can be! There are lots of opportunities to take part in a foreign football tournament whatever age or ability, both boys and girls teams. There are hundreds of tournaments to choose from but in this post I am featuring 10 tournaments across Europe.
My cousin went along with his sonโs school football team to take part in one of these football tournaments. They had an amazing experience, and actually came third! It was a great bonding experience for the kids which will live with them forever.
1. Absolute Stoke City Football Festival, Stoke, United Kingdom
Taking place in Spring, theย fabulous Absolute Stoke City Football Festival is an opportunity for both club and school teams. Itย features small sided tournament matches, coaching with the Stoke City members of staff, stadium tour of the Britannia Stadium and premier league match tickets. The winning teamsย are honoured withย a pitch-side presentation at the Britannia stadium.
2. Easter Open, Limburg, Holland
The Easter Open in Limburg, Holland is known for being a greatย Easter football tournament. It very much has the feel of anย international football tournament with competitions forย both boys and girls football teams as well as a category for elite teams too.
3. Dublin Summer Cup, Dublin, Ireland
This competition has been running for over 10 years. It takes place inย the summer and sees competing teams, not only from the UK and Ireland butย from across Europe and theย U.S.A too.
4. Barcelona Football Festival, Barcelona, Spain
This tournament which takes place on the coast of Barcelonaย is aย veryย popular competition for boys teams. The matches take place overย two days and participants also get theย opportunityย to visit the home of F.C. Barcelona, the Camp Nou stadium. With great weather and beaches nearby, this is a highly regarded tournament.
5. Rome International Cup, Rome, Italy
Want to mix football with a bit of culture? Then this might be the tournament for you. It takes place over the Easter weekend, so you can take the opportunity to see the Pope’s Easter address in St Peter’s Square. All the tournament matches are held at the impressive La Borghesiana complex.ย On top of this, there’s the chance toย catch some Serie A action over the weekend too!
6. Dana Cup, Hjorring, Denmark
Beย amongst the 20,000 participants of thisย fantastic football tournament that takes placeย in one of the most beautifulย areas of Denmark.
7. Audruicq Tournament, Calais, France
If you looking for something with a bit of an international flavour, but isn’t too far from home then this may be a good option. It takes place just outside ofย Calais, overย Easter, so it’s just a hop across the channel.
8. Gothia Cup, Gothenburg, Sweden
The Gothia Cup is a tournament which has been running for more than 30 years. Each year there areย approximately 1500 teams which participate. It isย considered to be one of the most international of its kind, drawing participating teams from around the world.
9. Porte Des Fagnes Tournament, Belgium
The Porte Des Fagnes attracts upwards ofย 100 teams and takes place in the Belgian countryside during Spring.
10. Norway Cup, Oslo, Norway
Attracts more thanย 1500 teams, the Norway Cup isย one of the largest international football tournaments. This is another tournament with a big history, having been running for over 40 years.
As you can see there are a wide range of options available, and this is just a selection of 10! You can find out about more tournaments and how to go about getting your team booked into such a competition by visiting the Football Tournaments and Toursย section on this website.
What do you think about taking a kids team to an international football tournament? Is this something yourย kids have done?ย Please leave aย comment as I would love to read your thoughts.
*Disclosure:ย This is a collaborative post.
Thanks for stopping by,
Love you allย โค
Franca ย 💋
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Hi Franca,
Nice tournaments. Helsinki Cup in Finland is also one of the greatest tournaments in Europe. Clubs from +20 different countries, lot of them from Southern America. Over 20 000 young boys and girls play in all age groups in one week period. Finals played in bigger stadium. Tournament is established in 1976 and I need to remind that summer in Finland is normally really beautiful and you can see midnight sun. Environment is one of the safest in the world. I don’t know why there is none British teams on the tournament. Everybody in Finland speaks English also.
Best regards
Juha Hurme