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Following the success of the first event in 2019, during which FC Barcelona was crowned champion, the LaLiga Hope Cup has returned to Kunming with six Under-16 LaLiga teams facing six Chinese clubs from August 26 to 30.
The opening ceremony, attended by government authorities, marks the tournament’s initial phase, in which young players from both countries will compete to become champions of the second edition of the LaLiga Hope Cup 2023 and strengthen the relationships between Spain and China.
To officially commence the tournament, David Barroso, a player from Cádiz CF, represented all LaLiga participants by pledging to uphold sportsmanship during the tournament. The opening ceremony brought together all 12 participating teams, the referee body, as well as Liu Junzhu, Deputy Director of General Administration of Sport in China, Liu Jiachen, Mayor of Kunming, Eduardo Carrasco, Political Counsellor of the Spanish Embassy in China; and Sergi Torrents, LaLiga Director in China, among other key representatives from Chinese and Spanish institutions.
Following the grand opening, the tournament kicked off with Cádiz CF playing the inaugural match against Hubei FA. Over the course of 5 days, the 12 teams will play a total of 26 matches in a group-knockout-final format, with the finals scheduled for August 30 from 9:00 AM, followed by the closing ceremony and trophy presentation.
This tournament is part of a long-term strategic agreement between LaLiga, China Sports Futurity Investment (CSFI) and the Kunming government. The agreement includes other projects focused on the development of football in China, such as the LaLiga International Football Academy (Kunming).
Sergi Torrents, Managing Director of LaLiga China detailed that “This is a key tournament that reflects the valuable relationship between LaLiga and its partners in China, with the support of both the Chinese and Spanish government. The LaLiga Hope Cup is part of the celebration of the 50 years of diplomatic relations between China and Spain, and the values and friendship that our football embodies are a perfect demonstration of it”
The opening ceremony of the tournament, key for the development of grassroots football in the region, has also been attended by the President of China Sports Futurity (Beijing) Investment Co., LTD., the Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee of Anning City, the Director of Kunming Cultural Tourism Bureau, the Director of Kunming Education and Sports Bureau and representatives of key institutions like the General Administration of Sports, Sports Administration of Yunnan Province.
This year’s edition will bring together some potential football stars of the future, confirming the LaLiga Hope Cup as a leading international competition for grassroots football in Spain and China.
