Al Ahly and Barcelona Academy headline Group A after officials conducted the draw for the international U16 tournament in Egypt.
Eighteen teams from across the world will compete, and organisers aim to create a platform that highlights emerging talents.
The tournament features three groups of six. Al Ahly’s U16 team joined Barcelona Academy and Bayer Leverkusen in Group A, setting up one of the most closely watched clusters of the competition.
Escola Varsovia, Rukh Lviv, and Ceramica Cleopatra complete the group.
Organisers want the event to serve as a global scouting hub. Young players from different academies and clubs will showcase their abilities in front of scouts and representatives expected to attend throughout the tournament.
Egyptian giants Al Ahly and their partners sponsor the competition, which takes place on multiple venues across the country.
Group B includes high-profile youth sides from Juventus, Mamelodi Sundowns, and ES Tunis. K Beerschot VA, Meszoly Academy Budapest, and Right to Dream round out the group.
Each team aims to progress through a demanding schedule that will test squad depth and technical development.
Group C features Sporting CP and Queen Park Rangers, with Kazakhstan’s national youth team also included.
Donatello Calcio Di Udine, the Estonian Language Project team, and Zed FC complete the final group. T
he draw creates a diverse field, mixing traditional academies, national youth representatives, and development projects from several continents.
Officials believe the wide range of participating teams enhances the competition’s value.
With scouts monitoring every match, players gain exposure that could accelerate their professional journeys.
Final Group Breakdown
Group A
Al Ahly
Bayer Leverkusen
Escola Varsovia
Rukh Lviv
Barcelona Academy
Ceramica Cleopatra
Group B
Juventus
K Beerschot VA
Meszoly Academy Budapest
Mamelodi Sundowns
ES Tunis
Right to Dream
Group C
Sporting CP
Kazakhstan NT
Donatello Calcio Di Udine
Estonian Language Project
Zed FC
Queen Park Rangers
