Umag Trophy Youth Football Tournament Gears Up for Milestone Tenth Edition: Europe’s Football Giants Head Back to Istria!
Parents report that their children await the Umag Trophy with the same excitement as a New Year’s celebration. “We’re creating a Champions League experience for them, where participation is open to all,” explained the organizers from agency B4, ahead of the tenth anniversary of one of Europe’s largest youth tournaments, set to unfold on the Adriatic coast in March and April 2025.
The football fields at the sports center, located just a stone’s throw from the shimmering Adriatic Sea, fill each spring with promising young players from over 15 countries. After a decade of organic growth and development, the Umag Trophy has emerged as the most prestigious and highest-quality tournament in the region, also recognized as one of the largest in Europe. The most recent edition, held in March 2024, attracted more than 400 teams, totaling around 20,000 players, coaches, supporters, and sports enthusiasts. They enjoyed a rich accompanying program that included an opening ceremony at the ATP stadium of Goran Ivanišević, engaging children’s activities, live music performances, and a festive closing ceremony.
Every spring, numerous teams of young footballers in the U8 to U14 categories travel to the Croatian Istrian coast, where they spend four days competing in matches. However, competition is not always the primary reason for their participation. “Given the age of the children taking part in the tournament, it must be an event that offers more than just a contest for top honors. It serves as a learning experience in a new environment, fostering education and the acquisition of new skills. Ultimately, it acts as a launchpad for exceptionally talented individuals, whose performances catch the eyes of scouts from larger clubs,” noted Timotej Kranjc, CEO of a Slovenian B4 Agency, who has been steering the tournament’s organization since its inception a decade ago.
The allure of major clubs serves as a significant draw for many. In previous editions, teams from renowned clubs such as Barcelona, Juventus, Arsenal, AC Milan, Inter, and Benfica have participated, alongside top regional clubs like Red Star Belgrade and Partizan, Croatian powerhouses Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split, as well as Austrian clubs Red Bull Salzburg and Sturm Graz, and Italian teams like Udinese, Hellas Verona, and Parma. “Every year, the biggest European clubs receive invitations to hundreds of tournaments. They typically participate in about five, one of which is the Umag Trophy. Notably, they regularly return to our tournament, which is evidence that we are doing something right,” Kranjc stated.
What is it that captivates these Champions League winners? It’s a blend of suitable accommodations, reliable transportation, high-quality facilities, proximity of football fields, a well-structured competitive system, and effective communication throughout the year, according to the organizers, who emphasize their commitment to delivering a consistent experience for all participants. “The Umag Trophy offers smaller clubs from the region a unique opportunity to experience unforgettable matches against teams they usually only see on television, while donning the jersey of their home team. This unique chance allows young talents from lower-league clubs to participate just a few hours’ drive from home, whether from Klagenfurt, Ljubljana, Zagreb, or Budapest. The tournament composition will always remain the same: a mix of giants, a strong core of established regional clubs, and ample spots for all other clubs it aims to include,” concluded the founder of agency B4.
Despite a decade of experience in organizing the tournament, challenges for the future abound. Emir Haskić, Managing Director of agency B4, highlighted the complex logistics that accompany such a large-scale event: “Despite the extensive number of teams and matches, leading to a packed schedule from morning until evening, we strive to minimize delays in the competition timetable. While we receive overwhelmingly positive feedback, we continually seek to improve. In the future, we will focus on enhancing our infrastructure, ensuring that the quality of the playing surfaces is elevated, that the experience for tournament visitors is even more enjoyable, and that the overall appearance of the venue is more appealing.”
Haskić supports the claim that the tournament ranks among the top youth football competitions in Europe with concrete numbers: “The event often flies under the radar because it involves children rather than elite athletes. However, based on all relevant metrics—such as the number of teams and matches—it stands out as one of the largest annual sports events in this region, surpassing the annual ski-jumping event in Planica in terms of overnight stays by threefold.”
The upcoming Umag Trophy 2025 will commence on March 6, starting with the U9 category. Subsequent tournaments will feature U11 (March 13–16), U10 (March 20–23), U13 and U14 (March 27–30), and U8 and U12 (April 3–6). More information regarding team registrations and competition details can be found at b4.si/en/umagtrophy.
According to the organizers, the event is one that all young footballers will relish, as their satisfaction and smiling faces remain the paramount goal and key criterion for a successful tournament: “The Umag Trophy provides a unique blend of entertainment, a seaside destination, and quality competition, ensuring a sufficient number of matches for everyone, regardless of their level of football expertise. Young players train like Champions League athletes and feel that way, too,” concluded Haskić.
