This week, the tenth edition of the FC Bayern Youth Cup kicks off. The competition is one of the biggest and oldest youth tournaments in European professional club football. This year’s Youth Cup will be staged from 18 to 23 October in Munich. After a few days of settling in and preparation, a total of eight teams will battle it out in the ‘FC Bayern Youth Cup World Final 2023’ on 21 October, with the finals tournament taking place at the Olympiastadion, FC Bayern’s former home ground. It begins at 10:00 CEST and admission is free.
Andreas Jung, FC Bayern board member for marketing: “With the FC Bayern Youth Cup, we’ve created a format that’s been supporting successful international youth football for over 10 years now. We’re pleased that we, together with regional partners in the participating nations, can again offer the players an extraordinary experience this year, where they can prove themselves on the pitch as well as spread our values of diversity, cohesion and tolerance to the world.”
Jochen Sauer, head of youth development: “The FC Bayern Youth Cup is part of our international youth development programme and offers young players from all over the world an introduction to competitive football. Thanks to this U16 tournament, international talents have the unique chance to play their way into our FC Bayern World Squad or attract the attention of the FC Bayern Campus. Past experience shows that this also gives youth players who are not affiliated with an academy the chance to pursue a career in professional football.”
5,000 applicants, 80 players chosen
The 80 youngsters in the finals tournament came through local selection tournaments with over 5,000 candidates. The qualification rounds ranged from one-day events to selection tournaments over multiple months.
In the end, young players from the following countries prevailed:
- Argentina | Government of the Province of Misiones
- Germany | Partner: Buntkicktgut (NGO/foundation)
- India | Partner: BigHit (Sports app)
- Mexico | Partner: Curveball (Sports event agency)
- Nigeria (2022 defending champions) | Partner: VOE Foundation
- Rwanda | Partner: Visit Rwanda
- South Africa | Partner: 83 Sports (Sports Agency)
- US
The coaching team, led by FC Bayern legends Klaus Augenthaler and Hans Pflügler, were involved in the selection process and will coach the teams in Munich. Like last year, the focus besides the sporting aspect is on intercultural exchange. Among other things, the players will discuss the FCB initiative ‘Red against Racism’ within their teams and together make a visible stance for diversity, tolerance and open-mindedness with sleeve badges displaying ‘Red against Racism’.
After Victor Orakpo from Nigeria automatically qualified for the FC Bayern World Squad 2023 as the best player of the FC Bayern Youth Cup 2022 tournament and so-called ‘MVP’, the standout player this year is again set to be given the chance to become part of the FC Bayern World Squad 2024. In Carlos Colina (Mexico) and David Emmanuel (Nigeria), two other former Youth Cup participants got to play in this year’s World Squad via the regular application process – a sign that the Youth Cup is an integral component of youth football at FC Bayern, which can be a springboard for talents all over the world.
Find out more about the Youth Cup and FC Bayern's international youth programmes here:
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