South Belfast YFL Crowned Overall Girls' Club Champion at the Costa Blanca Cup 2026
The Northern Irish club topped the overall standings of the international youth football tournament. Category winners were CF La Nucía (G19), South Belfast YFL (G16), CD Bala Azul (G14) and Int. Soccer Promises (G12). Two boys' finals were also decided, with CF l'Alfàs del Pi winning B19 and Palmeiras Experience claiming the B8 title
South Belfast YFL has been crowned the Overall Girls' Club Champion of the 32nd edition of the Costa Blanca Cup. Organised by Tour-Sport Promociones Deportivas, the international youth football tournament has featured girls' competitions since its inaugural edition in 1994. The Northern Irish club secured the overall title by accumulating the highest number of points across all of its registered teams, with two squads competing in this year's tournament.
Friday, the fifth day of competition, saw the first six Phase A finals take place, four in the girls' competition and two in the boys' tournament. All six finals were played at the La Nucía Sports Complex. The champions were CF La Nucía in G19, South Belfast YFL in G16, CD Bala Azul in G14 and Int. Soccer Promises in G12. In the boys' competition, CF l'Alfàs del Pi lifted the B19 trophy, while Palmeiras Experience won the B8 title.
The G19 girls' final featured Inspire Soccer FC (USA) against local side CF La Nucía. The American team established a two-goal lead during the first half, but the hosts mounted an impressive comeback to level the match at 2-2 and force a penalty shootout. CF La Nucía prevailed 4-2 on penalties to claim the title. Ángela Galiana was named the final's Most Valuable Player (MVP).
In the G16 final, South Belfast YFL (Northern Ireland) defeated Norway's NSU 2-0 after a closely contested match to lift the trophy. Madison-Ray Kelly of South Belfast YFL was named MVP.
The G14 category completed its semi-finals on Friday morning before an all-Spanish final between CD Bala Azul and CFF Torrent l'Horta Sud. CD Bala Azul secured a 2-1 victory to become champions, with Valeria García, also from the winning side, receiving the MVP award.
In the G12 seven-a-side competition, Spain's Int. Soccer Promises edged France's Sporting Club Féminin 78 by a single goal (1-0). Avery Marshall, from the winning team, was named MVP.
The B19 boys' final was an all-Spanish affair between AD Villa de Madrid and CF l'Alfàs del Pi. The Alicante side claimed a thrilling 4-3 victory, with Xavi Cuesta earning MVP honours.
In the B8 seven-a-side category, Brazil's Palmeiras Experience defeated Spain's CF Atlético Jonense 4-0 to lift the trophy. Brazilian player Ícaro Milbratz was named MVP.
A Week of Football and Cultural Exchange
A total of 56 matches were played on Friday, bringing the tournament total to 478 matches since Monday across the venues in Benidorm, L'Alfàs del Pi, Altea, La Nucía, Calpe, Finestrat and La Vila Joiosa.
Around 4,000 players from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe are taking part in the Costa Blanca Cup, combining high-level youth football with valuable intercultural experiences. Now in its 32nd edition, the tournament features 206 teams, including 117 international and 89 Spanish clubs.
Participating nations include Brazil, the United States, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela from the Americas; Spain, France, England, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland, Estonia and transcontinental Türkiye from Europe; China, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates from Asia; and Morocco, Nigeria and Tanzania from Africa.
These figures are in addition to the Costa Blanca Cup Futsal Tournament, which concluded last Sunday with 113 teams (57 international and 56 Spanish) representing nine countries: France, England, Ireland and Spain from Europe; Canada, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela from the Americas; and Australia from Oceania.
Strong Institutional Support and Official Tournament App
Co-directed by Fernando Brotons and Daniel Artíguez, the tournament benefits from the support of the municipalities of Benidorm, L'Alfàs del Pi, Altea, La Nucía, Calpe, Finestrat and La Vila Joiosa, which provide the competition venues. Tournament partners also include Kappa, Grupo HCB Hospitales, Fútbol Factory, Sala Marina, Aqualandia, Terra Mítica, Hotel Meliá Benidorm and Prime.
Supporters can follow every aspect of the tournament through the official app. The free TOURSPORT APP, available on the App Store and Google Play, provides match schedules, venues, participating teams, results, standings, activity programmes, tournament regulations, medical assistance information and much more by selecting Costa Blanca Cup – Football. The same information is also available on the tournament's official website and social media channels.