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The FC Bayern Youth Cup is one of the most prestigious youth football tournaments in Europe and offers young players an exceptional platform to prove themselves at an international level. This year, players from all over the world will once again compete against each other in the World Finals on 16 and 17 October at the Adi Dassler Sports Field in Herzogenaurach.
Road to the Youth Cup World Finals
The exciting journey to the World Finals of the 2025 FC Bayern Youth Cup began with regional selection tournaments organised in cooperation with international partners. In the national finals of each country, the best young players competed against each other to secure one of their country's ten coveted places in the World Finals in October 2025.
In this crucial phase, the players have the extraordinary opportunity to prove themselves in front of the coaches and scouts of the FC Bayern Campus and compete for the coveted trophy. FC Bayern legends Klaus Augenthaler, Diego Contento and Bernd Dreher will scout the best player of the tournament, who will earn a place in the 2026 FC Bayern World Squad. As the crowning glory, the youngsters will also be able to attend the Bundesliga match on 18 October, where Bayern will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the table against Borussia Dortmund at the Allianz Arena.
Recap last year’s finals tournament:
2025 FC Bayern Youth Cup participants
The 2025 FC Bayern Youth Cup is the 12th edition of the tournament and has once again attracted talented players from all over the world. In addition to defending champions Argentina, participating nations include the USA, Rwanda, Nigeria and Japan. Team China is returning to the tournament for the first time since 2019, and for the first time ever, a team from Canada will also be taking part. A German team will also be represented. Talented players from across the country qualified for the national finals at Säbener Straße via the buntkicktgut street football league network, with the ten best players ultimately forming Team Germany.
As an integral part of FC Bayern's youth football pathway, the tournament bridges the gap between grassroots and competitive sport. The best players are given the opportunity to progress to the U17 Global Academy or the U19 FC Bayern World Squad via the FC Bayern Pathway. With this unique selling point, FC Bayern is also able to give talented young players around the world the chance to remain part of the club and support them in their further development.
One of the most remarkable success stories of the FC Bayern Youth Cup is that of Victor Orakpo from Nigeria. The attacking player was voted MVP of the tournament in 2022 and subsequently attracted attention through the World Squad programme. His performances ultimately convinced French Ligue 1 club Nice to sign him. Daniel Francis, also from Nigeria, followed a similarly successful path. As MVP of the 2019 FC Bayern Youth Cup, he secured a place in the FC Bayern World Squad and was later signed and loaned to Austria Klagenfurt. He is currently under contract with Wacker Innsbruck, where he is a regular starter. Stories like these prove that the FC Bayern Youth Cup is much more than just an ordinary youth tournament – it can be a springboard for many young talents on their way to international professional football.
Meet the field for the 2025 Youth Cup:
Argentina
- Partner: Government of Misiones Province
- Over 1,000 players in qualification tournaments throughout Misiones earning a place among the 100 players in a national final
Canada
- Canadian players from the FC Bayern Soccer Camps were invited to a tournament in Portland and scouted there
China
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Partner: adidas China
- The FC Bayern Academy in Taicang hosted players from the High School League across the country in the national finals, where coaches scouted the ten best players
Rwanda
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Partner: Visit Rwanda
- U16 players from the FC Bayern Academy Rwanda have developed through activities at the academy to represent their country at the world finals
Japan
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Partner: adidas Japan
- adidas Japan and the Japanese FA invited ten U16 players
Germany
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Partner: buntkicktgut
- Players from all over Germany qualified for the national finals at Säbener Straße via buntkicktgut’s street football league network
- Bayern legends Klaus Augenthaler, Diego Contento and Bernd Dreher scouted the players for Team Germany
Nigeria
- Partner: VOE Foundation
- 100 players from different regions of Nigeria gathered in Lagos for the national finals to be scouted by FC Bayern legend Diego Contento and Lars Weichert, head of international youth football
USA
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Partner: Sports Venture Group Foundation
- 60 players who were scouted by FC Bayern coaches at FC Bayern Soccer Camps across America during the summer took part in the national finals at the American adidas headquarters in Portland, Oregon
- Team USA was scouted by Lars Weichert, head of international youth football
📺 Watch the documentary covering the 2024 Youth Cup:
