FC Bayern Youth Cup

The FC Bayern Youth Cup

The FC Bayern Youth Cup is one of the longest-running youth football tournaments hosted by a European football club, providing a great platform for young players to showcase their talent in Munich. Within the FC Bayern Pathway, the competition is the stepping stone from grassroots football to high-level performance.

Since its introduction in 2012 it has been conducted on a yearly basis for U16 players, in cooperation with FC Bayern partners across the globe. Over 100,000 players from more than 15 countries have participated. More than 20 participants either signed a professional contract or got called up for their national teams after appearing in the tournament.

Free of cost for players, our aim is to give opportunities to boys worldwide irrespective of their social background. The best players have the chance to move up within the FC Bayern Pathway and be included in the U19 FC Bayern World Squad, bringing them to the doorstep of professional football.

The journey starts with FC Bayern’s partners organising local selection tournaments leading up to a National Final, where FC Bayern Legends and youth coaches scout the best players to form the team that will compete in the World Final in Munich against the other participating countries.

The teams travel to Germany and take part in a training camp at FC Bayern facilities, with FC Bayern Campus coaches. Players not only experience the FC Bayern Campus philosophy and methodology, but also learn from each other’s cultures through the universal language of football.

The highlight is the final tournament in a World Cup-style format, which has been played at the Allianz Arena, Munich’s Olympiastadion and the Adi-Dassler-Sportplatz at adidas headquarters in Herzogenaurach. It’s the time for players to shine and recommend themselves to our coaches and scouts. All eyes are on the trophy to successfully conclude a journey that started thousands of kilometres away.

Former FC Bayern Youth Cup players Daniel Francis, David Emmanuel und Victor Orakpo progressed through our pathway, some of them up to professional football. Learn more about their journeys here.