FC Bayern, together with Volkswagen, the German record champions’ youth partner, is launching its ninth FC Bayern Youth Cup after a two-year absence due to the COVID 19 pandemic, giving U16 players from all over the world the chance to showcase their skills on the FC Bayern stage. The tournament, which will take place in Munich from 12 to 17 October, is one of the biggest and at the same time oldest international competitions in the world organised by a professional football club. In the final on 15 October, a total of eight countries will compete against one another at Munich's Olympiastadion. The event starts at 10:00 CEST and admission is free.
FC Bayern executive board member Andreas Jung: "FC Bayern engages with young footballers all over the world through the Youth Cup. The project is an interesting cornerstone for us because it combines grassroots and competitive football. We are pleased that in Volkswagen we have a strong partner by our side who shares values such as tolerance, diversity and togetherness with us and carries them out into the world alongside us."
Before the total of 80 players from all over the world travel to Munich, they had to qualify at local selection tournaments, ranging from one-day events to nationwide qualification tournaments lasting several months with more than 10,000 players:
- Argentina| Partner: Government of the Misiones Province
- Germany| Partner: Buntkicktgut
- Japan | Partner: Adidas
- Mexico | Partner: Curveball
- Nigeria | Partner: VOE Foundation
- Togo | Partner: Buntkicktgut & Elite Foot
- Singapore | Partner: Sport Singapore
- USA (2019 defending champions)
In Munich, the players will be trained by the coaching team led by legends Klaus Augenthaler and Hans Pflügler. The aim is to offer the players an intercultural exchange programme in addition to the sporting aspects. A new feature this year is that the best player, the so-called MVP, will be selected for the FC Bayern 2023 World Squad.
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