There was an incredible atmosphere at the Precission Football facilities in Ibn Matuta, Dubai, which hosted the first qualifying round of the Gañafote Cup tournament. Michel Salgado’s academy in the emirate, Fursan Hispania Football Club, emerged victorious in a hard-fought final that was closely contested from the very start.
The Spanish Soccer School team in Dubai defeated “Precission Football” 3–6 in the grand final, securing a direct spot in the Final Phase of the 2024 Gañafote Cup, to be held in Huelva (Spain), March 21–24, 2024, where they will face off against the world’s best teams: FC Barcelona, Manchester City, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Benfica, Porto, Monaco, Chelsea, Liverpool, Olympique de Marseille, Atlético de Madrid, Athletic Club de Bilbao, Villarreal, PSV, Club Brugge, Roma, Gran Rosario of Argentina, and Recreativo de Huelva (the oldest club in Spanish soccer), among others.
Joaquín Rasco, the international director general of the Gañafote Cup, thrilled by the success, says, “We didn’t expect such a warm reception for this first phase we’re holding on a global scale. Dubai has treated us very well; the clubs want to come to Huelva to compete, even though they didn’t win this qualifying round.” “It’s amazing how soccer is experienced here in the emirate,” he notes. “We’ve had some magical days, which makes us want to come back next year with an even bigger tournament,” he concludes.
Third place went to “LaLiga Academy Dubai,” which defeated “Empire FC” in the third-place match; this qualifying round teams from up to three emirates, with a total of 16 clubs represented. All of this is made possible thanks to the sponsorship of Make Fortune, a Dubai-based company that helps other companies around the world expand into the city; on this occasion, it served as the main partner for this edition of the Gañafote in Dubai.
“We’re thrilled because the clubs left very satisfied with the organization, and it was a huge responsibility,” says Juan Pablo Reynoso, a tournament staff member in the United Arab Emirates. According to Manu Suero, the Gañafote Cup’s international communications director, “We’re putting Huelva on the map around the world through soccer and youth sports. We’ll keep working to ensure the Gañafote Cup grows and becomes the best youth soccer tournament in the world.”
And all of this is thanks to the support of government bodies such as the Regional Government of Andalusia, the Huelva Provincial Council, and the municipal governments of Huelva, Palos de la Frontera, Moguer, Rociana del Condado, Villablanca, Almonte, Ayamonte, Cartaya, Lepe, and Aljaraque. All of these municipalities will serve as official venues for this eighth edition in the province of Huelva.
