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 son’s 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, the fabulous Absolute Stoke City Football Festival is an opportunity for both club and school teams. It 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 teams are honoured with a pitch-side presentation at the Britannia stadium.
2. Easter Open, Limburg, Holland
The Easter Open in Limburg, Holland is known for being a great Easter football tournament. It very much has the feel of an international football tournament with competitions for 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 in the summer and sees competing teams, not only from the UK and Ireland but from across Europe and the U.S.A too.
4. Barcelona Football Festival, Barcelona, Spain
This tournament which takes place on the coast of Barcelona is a very popular competition for boys teams. The matches take place over two days and participants also get the opportunity 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. On top of this, there’s the chance to catch some Serie A action over the weekend too!
6. Dana Cup, Hjorring, Denmark
Be amongst the 20,000 participants of this fantastic football tournament that takes place in one of the most beautiful 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 of Calais, over 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 are approximately 1500 teams which participate. It is 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 of 100 teams and takes place in the Belgian countryside during Spring.
10. Norway Cup, Oslo, Norway
Attracts more than 1500 teams, the Norway Cup is 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 Tours section on this website.
What do you think about taking a kids team to an international football tournament? Is this something your kids have done? Please leave a comment as I would love to read your thoughts.
*Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.
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Franca 💋
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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