The Gañafote Cup shines in Fitur with Fernando Morientes as godfather.
The Andalusia hall of pavilion number 5 of the International Tourism Fair hosted the presentation of the tenth edition of the Gañafote Cup, the most important grassroots soccer tournament in the world that is held every year in the province of Huelva, and which this time is sponsored by former international striker Fernando Morientes.
Between photos and compliments, the godfather arrived at the Andalusia room, after passing through the stand of Huelva in Fitur. There he was awaited by mayors and councilors of the dozens of municipalities that will host the next edition. On behalf of all of them, the mayoress Pilar Miranda, stressed that "it is an unprecedented tourist and sporting event, with the arrival of 6,000 participants and more than 25,000 visitors".
On behalf of Diputación de Huelva, the president of the agency Destino Huelva, Ana Delgado, supported this project that is unique and that "adds value to tourism" in the province of Huelva. At the same time, she invited the sponsor, Fernando Morientes, to discover the benefits of each municipality.
Likewise, on behalf of the Junta de Andalucía, the territorial delegate of Sports and Tourism, Teresa Herrera, opened the doors of the autonomous community to all those who will visit Huelva during the tournament and indicated that the greatness of this tournament is that it has already reached the Andalusia brand "to the five continents".
Morientes pointed out that he comes to "bring to the young people the experience" that he himself has lived as a soccer player. And on the part of the ambassador of social actions, Xanty Elías, "this tournament has a plus, to give back to the province what the province gives". The Gañafote will be held in April 2025 and will bring to Huelva more than 350 teams from around the world, being the province of Huelva, for a few days, the epicenter of world grassroots soccer.
The project director, Joaquín Rasco, explained the evolution of the project and all that has been achieved over the years. As the most significant fact, the previous phases of the Gañafote, which in this edition are disputed in the five continents. Colombia, Dubai, Australia, Japan, Argentina or Poland, among others, are corners of the world where the Gañafote has traveled. The winners of these previous phases are already participants in April in Huelva.
All the institutions present: Diputación de Huelva, Junta de Andalucía, as well as all the city councils that host the event, took the floor, highlighting the growth experienced by this sports project, which already surpasses the world of soccer, being a tourist reference, with the arrival of more than 25,000 visitors, 17 full hotels in the province, 350 teams or a provincial economic impact that exceeds two million euros.
In this edition, the 2025 tournament venues are Huelva, Lepe, Cartaya, Villablanca, Palos de la Frontera, Beas, Bonares, Aljaraque, San Juan del Puerto, Almonte, Ayamonte or Moguer; adding as a facility this year Lamiya in La Monacilla, and the sub-venues of Matalascañas and Mazagón.
