Dubai: Former Portugal legend Luis Figo was in Dubai on Tuesday for the launch of the second edition of the Under-13 Dubai Intercontinental Football Cup, to be held at Dubai Sports City from Thursday to Saturday.
Twenty teams from 13 countries are taking part, up from the 12 teams from eight nations last year.
The teams include Spanish sides Real Madrid and Barcelona, England’s Liverpool, Italy’s Juventus, and Egypt’s Al Ahly. Local sides Al Wasl, Al Nasr, Shabab Ahli and Al Wahda are also there along with Spanish Soccer Schools Dubai.
Also taking part are Spain’s Celta Vigo, Ghana’s Lizzy Sports, Canada’s Canadian Academy, Australia’s Pascoe Vale, Angola’s AFA, Egypt’s Wadi Degla, China’s Jiangsu Suning, Russia’s FC Rostov, Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr and Japan’s Tokyo Select.
All 57 matches over three days will played from 9am to 9pm daily with the finals taking place at 8.30pm on Saturday. At least 29 of the matches will be televised live.
“Our intention is to try to make the tournament the best in the world in this category,” said tournament director and former Real Madrid defender Michel Salgado at Tuesday’s press conference to announce the event — where tournament ambassador Figo was also present — at Dubai Sports Council’s offices in Dubai Design District. “It’s a key factor now that we are covering all the continents with the increase of teams,” added the Spaniard.
Figo, a former World Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or winner who played for Barcelona and Real Madrid, said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for kids to have this kind of tournament because it allows them access to coaches, facilities and competition to help them grow and achieve their dream of becoming a professional footballer.”
Dubai Sports Council general secretary Saeed Hareb added: “Dubai will remain a platform and gate for sports events and this is considered one of the most important of the more than 400 we organise annually.
“This tournament is such a strong addition because of the great number of teams and players who will one day be the future of their clubs and national teams.
“The increase in teams asserts and confirms everyone’s view of the tournament and we’d like to thank Figo and Salgado for that.
“Our objective from this tournament is to develop UAE clubs and players and we look forward to using this tournament as a window for them.”
