FC Barcelona men and women first-team players Eric García and Jana Fernández, along with Club vice-president, Rafa Yuste, took centre stage to present the 2022 edition of the Barça Academy World Cup presented by Allianz, returning to the pitches of the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. 1,150 boys and girls aged 6 to 14 years old representing 15 countries and 26 Barça Academy and Barça Academy Camps will play in the ninth edition of the tournament from Monday 11 to Thursday 14.

Also tournament ambassadors, Eric García and Jana Fernández gathered in the grounds of La Masía with a dozen boys and girls from Barça Escola Barcelona, Barça Academy PRO Miami, Barça Academy Jordania, Barça Academy Yokohama, Barça Academy Austin, and Barça Academy Orlando. García joined them for some rondos before leaving for first-team training. 

Press conference presentation after a group photo

The official presentation took place in the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper press room with FC Barcelona vice-president, Rafa Yuste. He highlighted that it is “a great celebration of Barcelonism from around the world and that families will be able to savour a 100% Barça experience during their visit. Furthermore, we want to really thank the 300 coaches with our footballing philosophy dotted around the world”.

FC Barcelona women's player Jana Fernández, who began her incursion into Barça's playing style and methodology at Barça Escola Barcelona during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons, reminded that she played for her team at the international tournament when she was 12 years old. She acknowledged that “all my experiences have been magical and I've been lucky to have them at Barça, my club for life”. 

Barça Academy director, Carles Martín, stated that “we are very happy to hold our great annual celebration again, our returning international tournament. After not being able to organise the last two editions, we want to fill Estadi Johan Cruyff with players and families from around the world so that they can enjoy this long awaited moment of the season”.

Action starts on Monday

The inauguration will take place at 10.30am CEST, Monday 11 in Estadi Johan Cruyff, followed directly by the first games in the four categories of Under-8s, Under-10s, Under-12s, and Under-14s on the seven pitches at the Ciutat Esportiva. The tournament finals will take place from 10.30am CEST on Thursday, April 14 on pitch 7 of the Ciutat Esportiva, before the closing ceremony and trophy presentations from Estadi Johan Cruyff (1.30pm CEST).

Once again, the competition can be followed via the official tournament app, available for Android and IOS, with games being shown on Barça TV and Barça TV+ to the general public.