Abu Dhabi: The Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup will return in February 2024, building on the success of 2023 tournament.
The tournament is designed for young football players worldwide of all abilities and is hosted in Abu Dhabi by Manchester City to inspire and nurture young talent. The competition started in 2017 and has grown in prestige. In the most recent tournament, there were over 1,700 players from 13 countries on four continents, including Manchester City Academy players from the UK, and a total of 6,000 spectators.
On the pitch at 2023 tournament, more than 1,000 goals were scored across 400 matches and off the pitch, families and players were able to enjoy live entertainment, a match screening of a Premier League fixture and fun activities in the ‘City Village’.
The tournament will take place at the Zayed City Sports Stadium in Abu Dhabi, which is the largest multi-purpose sports venue in the UAE, over the weekend of February 17th – 18th, 2024.
Mr. Talal Al Hashemi, Executive Director of Sports Development Sector at Abu Dhabi Sports Council, stated that “we were delighted to stage this fabulous event for the first time since the pandemic outbreak, and really overwhelmed by the response we received from the teams, players and families.
“We always try to improve on the past events and 2024 will not be an exception. It’s a great opportunity for young footballers to gain experience of playing against top-notch visiting teams,” Mr. Al Hashemi added.
Mr. Simon Hewitt, Tournament Director, commented that “following on from the success of the 2023 event, we can’t wait to see so many young footballers with a smile on their faces and having fun at the Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup in February 2024. The tournament returns for another year and will be a great experience for everyone involved, from the players, to the families and the coaches.”
“The tournament is very inclusive, catering to all levels of abilities, with day two ending in a selection of finals for the City Cup, City Plate, City Trophy and City Shield all up for grabs. One lucky team will win an all-expenses-paid, once-in-a-lifetime trip to the City Football Academy in Manchester,” Mr. Hewitt added.