LALIGA presents the first-ever LALIGA FC FUTURES Mundial tournament

The LALIGA FC FUTURES Mundial U12 tournament was presented today in Madrid, marking a landmark moment for the world’s most prestigious youth football competition. From 25 to 29 March 2026, Brunete (Madrid) will host the first-ever global edition, bringing together 20 elite clubs from five continents in a celebration to mark the tournament’s 30th anniversary.

Organised by LALIGA and the Fundación José Ramón de la Morena, LALIGA FC FUTURES Mundial U12 will feature clubs from Spain, Brazil, Argentina, England, France, USA, China, Germany, Italy, Morocco and Turkey and take place at the Campo Municipal de Los Arcos in the town of Brunete, just west of Madrid, which hosted the first ever international LALIGA FC FUTURES tournament back in 1996.

Since its inaugural edition 30 years ago, LALIGA FC FUTURES has established itself as the leading international tournament in grassroots football. Over the years, the competition has provided a first glimpse of some of the brightest talents in world football, including Xavi, Iker Casillas, Santi Cazorla, Andrés Iniesta, Fernando Torres, Gerard Piqué, Cesc Fabregas, Gavi, Dean Huijsen and Lamine Yamal, among many others.

The LALIGA FC FUTURES Mundial U12 will feature 20 teams divided into four groups of five, including both the reigning national (RCD Espanyol) and international (Atlético de Madrid) champions:

Group A: SE Palmeiras (Brazil), CR Flamengo (Brazil), CA Boca Juniors (Argentina), CA River Plate (Argentina), Inter Miami CF (USA)

Group B: Inter Milan (Italy), Bayer Leverkusen (Germany), Paris Saint-Germain (France), Arsenal FC (England), Galatasaray SK (Turkey)

Group C: Real Madrid (Spain), Atlético de Madrid (Spain), Real Betis (Spain), Sevilla FC (Spain), Wydad AC (Morocco)

Group D: FC Barcelona (Spain), RCD Espanyol (Spain), Valencia CF (Spain), Villarreal CF (Spain), Shanghai Port FC (China)

The group stage runs from 25–27 March, beginning each day at 9:30am CET. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, which will be played on the morning of Saturday 28 March starting at 10am CET, with the semi-finals taking place later that evening kicking off at 6pm CET. The third-place playoff (11:30am CET) and final (12pm CET) will be played on Sunday 29 March.

Javier Tebas, President of LALIGA, said: “LALIGA FC FUTURES is the perfect embodiment of LALIGA’s long-term commitment to developing young talent. Launching a truly global edition that brings together clubs from all over the world not only demonstrates the international trust in Spanish football as a benchmark for developing the next generation, but also reaffirms our vision of a sustainable game, built on continuous investment in youth academies and the future of the sport.”

José Ramón de la Morena, President of the Fundación JRM, said: “30 years ago, we set out to create opportunities for young players and champion the values of effort, respect and camaraderie that define our game. Today, seeing that vision become a global tournament featuring the finest academies in the world fills us with immense pride. It is a historic milestone for youth football and proof of what is possible when you believe in young talent.”

Mar Nicolás Robledano, Mayor of Brunete, said: “It is an honour for the town of Brunete to host the first LALIGA FC FUTURES Mundial U12 tournament to mark the competition’s 30th anniversary. Three decades ago, we opened our doors to a project that is now a global benchmark for youth football development, and seeing how it has evolved into a worldwide event confirms the importance of continuing to invest in grassroots sport.”

Mariano de Paco Serrano, Regional Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport of the Community of Madrid, said: “This tournament places our region at the centre of international youth football development and is testament to our ability to organise major sporting events. It also reinforces our commitment to promoting sport as a tool for instilling strong values and boosting international visibility.”

 

LALIGA FC FUTURES Mundial U12 will be broadcast live in Spain on DAZN, GOL, Teledeporte, LALIGA TV BAR, LALIGA HYPERMOTION TV, LALIGA+ and LALIGA Inside. Internationally, it will be available via LALIGA’s international channel, the official LALIGA+ OTT, as well as on LALIGA’s official YouTube, Facebook, X, Twitch and TikTok accounts. In China, coverage will also be available on Bilibili and Weibo.