The International Carnaval Cup has established itself, edition after edition, as one of the major showcases of grassroots football in Europe. A tournament where not only teams compete, but also methodologies, academies and the future promises of international football.
Each edition has reinforced the essence of the Carnaval Cup: young talent, high-level football and a formative environment that goes far beyond the final result. The growing interest from international clubs and the historical weight of Spain’s top academies have turned the tournament into a true benchmark in European youth football.
Barcelona, the tournament’s dominant side
If there is one club that has defined an era in the International Carnaval Cup, it is FC Barcelona. With titles in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022 and 2024, the Blaugrana side has shown clear supremacy based on the quality of its academy and a very defined playing identity from an early age.
In 2024, Barcelona lifted the trophy once again after defeating Real Madrid in a final of extremely high competitive level, reaffirming their status as one of the historical references of the tournament.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, has also left a significant mark. In 2023, the Whites were crowned champions after beating Valencia CF in the final, proving that the rivalry between top academies is also lived with maximum intensity at youth level.
Valencia CF steps down from the throne
The 2025 edition had Valencia CF as the main protagonist, as they returned to glory at the Municipal de Premià after completing a very solid and competitive tournament. The team coached by Miguel Gandía showed maturity, structure and great efficiency in key moments, establishing itself as one of the most competitive academies on the national scene.
This year, the champion was Real Zaragoza. The Aragonese side claimed the title after completing an outstanding tournament, standing out for their competitiveness, personality and very solid collective play throughout the competition. Their triumph confirmed that the tournament is not only the territory of traditional powerhouses, but also a stage where new academies can step forward and make history.
Growth and competitive level of the tournament
Although the spotlight often focuses on clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid or Valencia, the International Carnaval Cup has proven to be an open tournament where different teams have been able to compete at the highest level. Clubs like Espanyol, Damm, Real Sociedad, Sant Andreu and Zaragoza itself have reached finals and decisive stages, raising the competitive prestige of the championship year after year.
On an international level, the presence of foreign academies has continued to grow. While no international club has yet managed to lift the trophy, teams such as Genk (Belgium) or Lonestar (United States) have shown the remarkable development of grassroots football outside Spain, bringing tactical and cultural diversity to the tournament.
International Carnaval Cup Honours List (U13)
2026: Champion – Real Zaragoza
2025: Champion – Valencia CF | Runner-up – Espanyol
2024: Champion – FC Barcelona | Runner-up – Real Madrid
2023: Champion – Real Madrid | Runner-up – Valencia CF
2022: Champion – FC Barcelona | Runner-up – Real Sociedad
2020: Champion – Valencia CF | Runner-up – Espanyol
2019: Champion – Damm | Runner-up – Sevilla FC
2018: Champion – Valencia CF | Runner-up – Real Sociedad
2017: Champion – FC Barcelona | Runner-up – Sant Andreu
2016: Champion – FC Barcelona | Runner-up – Zaragoza
2015: Champion – FC Barcelona | Runner-up – Argentona
2014: Champion – Espanyol | Runner-up – Argentona
