Youth football tournament brings 4,500 to VRSA

‘A Copa do Guadiana’ is largest national football tournament held in one single borough

Vila Real de Santo António is getting ready to host the ninth edition of ‘A Copa do Guadiana’, the “largest national football tournament held in one single borough”.

The event will take place between June 25 and July 3 and feature 272 teams and over 4,500 youth footballers and staff.

Teams will be divided into nine age groups: under-eight (five-a-side football); under-nine, 10, 11, 12 and 13 (seven, nine and 11-a-side), and under-15 and under-17 (11-a-side).

The first teams to take the pitch between June 25 and 28 will be 11-a-side teams with athletes born between 2006 and 2010.

Between June 28 and July 1, matches will be played by nine-a-side teams with footballers born in 2010, as well as seven-a-side teams with players born in 2011 and 2012.

The final three days of the tournament (July 1 and 3) will see the youngest players taking to the pitch, with five-a-side and seven-a-side teams featuring athletes born in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Matches will be played at the sports complexes of VRSA and Monte Gordo and at the Francisco Gomes Socorro pitch every day starting at 8.30am.

The opening ceremony for 11-a-side teams will take place on Sunday at 8.30pm at the VRSA sports complex, while the ceremony for the following teams will take place on July 1 at 7.30pm.

“The presence of dozens of teams and hundreds of participants from different regions of the country in the borough for over a week creates a unique dynamic which not only benefits the local economy, but also promotes our town as a leading tourist and sports destination,” said VRSA mayor Álvaro Araújo.

“Through ‘Copa do Guadiana’, we are strengthening our position as the capital of youth football, providing athletes, coaches and families an unforgettable experience,” he added.

By Michael Bruxo

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