The Barça Academy World Cup presented by Allianz was presented this morning at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper in the presence of first vice-president for sport Rafael Yuste, and the sporting director of the Barça Academy project, Sergi Barjuan. The 2023 competition is the tenth anniversary edition, and has 50% more participants than last year as things return to pre-pandemic levels. And it has two top class patrons in men's and women's senior team stars Ansu Fati and Alexia Putellas, who were there today for a kickabout and to sign autographs with a dozen players from the Barça Academies from all around the world that have come together in Barcelona. 

Things will start on Monday 3 April at 10.30am with the opening ceremony at the Estadi Johan Cruyff. There are 1,660 boys and girls from 6 to 14 years of age taking part, representing 34 Barça Academies and Barça Academy Camps from 19 countries and 159 teams. This is the first time that there has also been a girls' competition, with 102 girls competing in U12 and U14 from Barça Escola Barcelona, the Perfeccionament Catalunya school, Italy, Mexico and Japan.

The first games will kick off at noon on Monday with six age categories, namely U8, U10, U12 and U14 for boys and the two aforesaid girls' categories. The finals are on Thursday 6 April from 10.00am am on Pitch 7 at the Ciutat Esportiva, and the Girls' U14 final and the trophy presentations will be in the Estadi Johan Cruyff at 1pm the same day.

There are two debutant Barça Academies from Pune (India) and Hiroshima (Japan), as well as players from the Barça Academy Camps in Puerto Rico. A number of teams are returning after not being able to come last year due to the impact of Covid-19 in their countries, such as the ones from India and Singapore. 

Rafael Yuste, first vice-president and for sport at FC Barcelona
The Barça Academy project helps us to spread the Barça name around the world and shows why we are more than a club. This year we again have players from four continents who will be enjoying this Barça experience. For us it is very important to stress that Barça is not just about the professional teams, but that everything begins with young boys and girls. 

Sergi Barjuan, sporting director of Barça Academy
This year we wanted to do more for girls' football, and that's why we created these fully female U12 and U14 categories in which 102 girls will be playing. It will also be interesting to see how the Barça style of play and methodology have been applied at the different academies around the world.