The group stage began with intense matches that made it clear that each team will fight for glory in this prestigious youth tournament. On the first day of competition, there were closely contested games, with surprises arriving quickly. However, one of the results that caught the most attention was the debut of Premià de Dalt, who secured an important victory over Nàstic de Tarragona (1-2). Facing Nàstic de Tarragona, a team with experience in this kind of competition, Premià showed great effectiveness both in defense and attack. Despite being considered one of the surprises of the tournament, they managed to prevail with a favorable 2-1 result.

This win gives them a lot of confidence to tackle the upcoming matches with the goal of going as far as possible. The victory not only allows them to earn three valuable points but also puts them in a favorable position to advance to the next phase, despite losing in the second match 1-2 to Dream Road (Japan).

FC Barcelona also started off well in the competition, showing remarkable effectiveness in their first game. The team, led by Jordi Poma, demonstrated their usual dominance on the pitch with fast and fluid play, showcasing their style of ball possession and high pressing. Barcelona’s effectiveness was key in securing a comfortable 3-0 victory in their debut: 3-0 against Shelbourne and RFS Academy, positioning them as one of the top contenders to defend their title from last year’s edition. With a renewed squad, but a solid core of quality players, the Catalans made it clear that they are one of the strongest teams in the tournament.

Espanyol and Valencia Dominate, Real Sociedad loses

The other matches of the day also offered exciting moments. Espanyol, with a resounding 7-1 win against Exclusivo, showed their great offensive power. Valencia, for their part, left no doubts by defeating Penya Blaugrana 13-0, impressing with their dominance. In other matches, Atlético de Madrid and Sporting Club de Portugal also earned important victories (Sporting Club de Portugal 8-1 Vilassar de Dalt and Atlético de Madrid 3-0 Nàstic de Tarragona), highlighting their defensive solidity and attacking efficiency. Every team showcased their best version, and the competitive level of this tournament became abundantly clear.

We also highlight FC Lahti 5-1 Marcet, the valuable goalless draw for Amposta against Villarreal, Genk 4-0 St. Kevins, Molvo 0-7 Shelbourne, and Clio 1-2 Cabrils, which marked the first win for the other local team in the competition.

The Tournament: A Challenge on Par with the Best

The format of the International Carnaval Cup remains the same, a challenge full of emotions from start to finish. This year, the tournament is being held from February 28 to March 2, with teams arriving on Friday, February 28 for hotel check-ins and the start of the group stage. Starting on Saturday, March 1, teams will compete in group-stage matches to determine the matchups for the round of 16, which will be played on the same day.

Sunday, March 2, will be the key day, with the quarterfinals, consolation phase, semifinals, and, of course, the grand final. Teams that make it to the final stages will fight for the title, while those eliminated in the early rounds will have the opportunity to compete for the top spots in the consolation phase.