The Baroque Courtyard of the Diputación de Córdoba served as the venue for the presentation, led by the provincial institution's president, Salvador Fuentes. Fuentes highlighted that the event, with the province of Córdoba as host for the second consecutive year, has solidified its position as one of the most significant international sporting events following the success of the previous edition.
Salvador Fuentes recalled the commitment made last year to revive this prestigious competition, stating it was a success due to the excellent response from clubs, impeccable organization, and the involvement of the municipalities. He emphasized that the tournament has become a reference point in the international formative football calendar.
This seventeenth edition will feature six host locations: Palma del Rio, Pozoblanco, Cabra, Montilla, Lucena, and Puente Genil. It will include the participation of twelve internationally renowned clubs, such as Real Madrid CF, São Paulo Futebol Clube, Sporting Clube de Portugal, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, Racing Club, GNK Dinamo de Zagreb, Club Athletico Paranaense, Real Sociedad, Real Betis, Málaga CF, and Córdoba CF, confirming the championship's prestige.
The provincial president stressed that the competition "extends beyond the sporting arena", as it will provide a "significant boost for social, economic, and tourist development", in addition to being an opportunity to promote the province nationally and internationally. He emphasized the importance of "experiential tourism" and creating memorable experiences for visitors.
A new feature this year is that the semi-finals will be held within the province. Fuentes reiterated the institution's firm belief in sport as a tool for social transformation, education, and cohesion, noting that "sport instills values and promotes healthy habits".
The event was also attended by the provincial delegate for Sports, Antonio Martín, who invited citizens to continue supporting such sporting initiatives, and the tournament director, Manolo Sanchís, who thanked the Diputación for its support and expressed the goal of making the tournament an undisputed reference in the province.
For their part, Manuel Ruiz, financial and institutional director of Caja Rural del Sur, described the event as "an international platform where young talent is measured, trained, and projected", fostering learning and personal and sporting growth among young people from diverse backgrounds.
Isabel Albás, delegate for Sports for the Córdoba City Council, highlighted the collaboration between the institutions and stated that "investing in sport is investing in health, education, equal opportunities, and the future of our youth", aiming for Córdoba to be recognized as a "true city of grassroots sports".
