The world's most prestigious youth football league is once again establishing Gran Canaria as its winter home, but this time with a change of venue that symbolizes the event's ambition. The 29th LALIGA FC FUTURES International Tournament, the most important U13 competition, will be held from December 27th to 29th, moving its action for the first time to the Gran Canaria Stadium in the island's capital.
The tournament will host 16 elite clubs, including the home team UD Las Palmas, who will face international giants such as FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid, Juventus FC, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, and Borussia Dortmund. The championship will kick off with the group stage on Saturday, December 27, at 9:30 a.m. The event, promoted by LALIGA and the José Ramón de la Morena Foundation, is a powerful tourism promotion tool. The Gran Canaria Island Council's strong commitment is justified by its advertising impact, estimated at over €10 million. The message projected globally through the broadcasts is clear: while winter freezes much of Europe, the island offers a mild and sunny climate ideal for high-level outdoor sports in the heart of winter.
UD Las Palmas has been drawn into Group B alongside Atlético de Madrid, Real Betis, and Paris Saint-Germain. The group stage will conclude on Sunday the 28th at midday, followed by the quarterfinals that same afternoon. The semifinals will be played on the morning of Monday, December 29th, culminating in the final at 6:00 PM.
The tournament has increased its media reach, with a total of eight matches televised daily. Gran Canaria's image will reach millions of homes across multiple platforms, including GOL, DAZN LALIGA, Movistar, and LALIGA's international channels, as well as global social media, promoting the island as an ideal destination for sports tourism. For the young footballers (many of them future professionals, like Iniesta and Piqué, who took their first steps here), the event is a memorable experience that combines high-level competition with the values of camaraderie during such a special time.
