FC Barcelona leads the historical ranking of the International Carnaval Cup with five victories in ten editions, standing out as the most successful club in the history of the youth tournament.
Each year, the International Carnaval Cup continues to be a showcase of talent, not only for the players participating but also for the clubs, who are looking to discover the future stars of football. With the growing interest from international teams and the historical dominance of the major Spanish clubs, the tournament continues to establish itself as one of the most important events in youth football across Europe.
As for FC Barcelona, it leads the historical ranking of the International Carnaval Cup with five victories in ten editions. This dominance in the tournament reflects not only the quality of its youth academy but also the hard work and investment made in the club’s lower categories, which translate into success both nationally and internationally. The Barça team, with its commitment to youth development, stands as one of the teams to beat in future editions, but the competition is more alive than ever, with teams that, although they have not yet claimed the title, are proving that the level of international youth football continues to rise. Undoubtedly, the upcoming editions of the International Carnaval Cup will be even more exciting and filled with surprises.
Barça’s dominance and rivalry with Real Madrid
If there is one team that has consistently reflected its good performance in the last editions of the International Carnaval Cup, it is FC Barcelona. With five titles to its name (2014, 2016, 2017, 2022, and 2024), the Barça team has shown clear supremacy in the tournament, which has been possible thanks to the high quality of its young players and the work philosophy of its academy, La Masía. In 2024, Barça defended its title by defeating Real Madrid in an epic final that kept all the fans on the edge of their seats.
Real Madrid, for its part, has been one of the main rivals of Barça, having won the trophy once, in 2023, by defeating Valencia in the final. The clashes between these two giant clubs of Spanish football are always full of excitement, and there is no doubt that both teams will continue to battle for the title in future editions.
The rise of other clubs
Despite the dominance of the major Spanish clubs, the tournament has also seen other teams stand out and lift the trophy in different editions. Valencia CF has been a club that has shone in the International Carnaval Cup, winning the title twice (2018 and 2020). These achievements have demonstrated the quality and talent of their youth academy, and their presence in the final stages has always been considered a key factor in the competitiveness of the tournament.
RCD Espanyol has also managed to win once (2014), being one of the teams that, like FC Barcelona, maintains a strong tradition in the development of its young players. Likewise, Damm had its moment of glory in 2019, winning the championship after an impressive performance against Sevilla FC. On the other hand, teams like Sant Andreu and Zaragoza have also had notable participation, reaching the final in previous editions.
The growing international presence
Although Spanish clubs have dominated the competition, more and more foreign teams are making it to the final stages each year. The International Carnaval Cup has attracted teams from all over the world, further raising the level of competitiveness. Although no foreign team has yet managed to win the title, many have demonstrated their potential by reaching the decisive rounds.
Teams like Genk (Belgium) and Lonestar (Austin, USA) have shown that the leagues in these countries are of high quality, and their young talents continue to demonstrate that international youth football is growing and becoming more competitive.
List of Champions of the International Carnaval Cup
Here is the full history of champions of the tournament, with a recap of previous editions:
- 2024: Champion – Barça | Runner-up – Madrid
- 2023: Champion – Madrid | Runner-up – Valencia
- 2022: Champion – Barça | Runner-up – Real Sociedad
- 2020: Champion – Valencia | Runner-up – Espanyol
- 2019: Champion – Damm | Runner-up – Sevilla
- 2018: Champion – Valencia | Runner-up – Real Sociedad
- 2017: Champion – Barça | Runner-up – Sant Andreu
- 2016: Champion – Barça | Runner-up – Zaragoza
- 2015: Champion – Barça | Runner-up – Argentona
- 2014: Champion – Espanyol | Runner-up – Argentona
