The World Schools Football Cup returned for the 2024 edition earlier this month, with young players from across the Gulf descending on Barcelona for three days of top-class action.
A total of 73 teams representing 33 schools from 18 different countries spanning four continents took part in the event which was held at Futbol Salou’s state-of-the-art facilities for the fourth time.
Five Gulf schools helped make up this total, with competitive, good-natured football played across the weekend and a variety of age groups.
Following the arrival of all 33 schools at the impressive Cambrils Park Resort on the Friday, the festivities got underway with a grand Opening Ceremony and an incredible performance by two-time Spanish ‘Best Freestyler’ Joan Sitjar in front of a packed crowd.
The group stage games then took place on Saturday through to Sunday morning, before the knockout Bowl, Plate, and Cup competitions took centre stage as each team vied to lift some silverware.
Representing the Gulf on the world stage
Having been used to competing against a limited crop of local schools in the Middle East, the World Schools Football Cup 2024 gave Gulf teams the opportunity to test themselves against teams from across the globe.
Despite being affectionately known as the ‘universal language’, football varies extensively in style from region to region. Therefore, the opportunity for Gulf schools to come up against a team from Brazil, for example, will prove hugely beneficial in further developing students’ understanding of the game.
Indeed, GEMS Wellington Al-Khail U17 Boys’ Head Coach, Grant Collins, spoke of the benefit to his team travelling from Dubai to compete in the tournament.
“Being from Dubai, we often play against people from different cultures and backgrounds, but it’s good to come here and get tested by some other teams that we would never normally play against.
“Plus, the facilities are absolutely fantastic – and the weather is a lot cooler – so it has been great!”
WSG Football success for Gulf schools
Collins’ GEMS WEK side were one of the standout performers across the whole weekend, leaving Barcelona as World Schools Football Cup winners in the U17 Boys category.
The Dubai-based school sailed through the group stage undefeated, scoring 17 goals and only conceding one in the process.
Their stellar record saw them book their place in the Cup Final, where a tough test against Obermayr International School of Germany awaited them.
However, despite a goalless draw when the sides met earlier in Group A, GEMS WEK ran out comfortable 2-0 winners in front of the live stream cameras and got their hands on the illustrious World Schools Football Cup.
Alfie Jowett-Yorke, who scored both of GEMS WEK’s goals in the final, spoke post-match of his delight at firing his team to victory.
“It feels really good! We’ve come close in the past two years – we came second twice – so we’re now just really, really happy to finally get a win under our belts.
“If I had to pick one, my favourite moment would probably be scoring two goals in the final – but it’s been great hanging out with the boys and finally becoming champions.”
Another Gulf-based school to enjoy success in Barcelona was Brighton College Abu Dhabi whose U15 Girls team ran out World Schools Football Cup winners after an impressive eight-game undefeated tournament.
After finishing top of Group A with a near-perfect record of six wins and one draw, BCAD faced Tanzanian team Braeburn School in Sunday’s Cup Final.
A highly-entertaining match played out in front of a packed Pitch B crowd, with BCAD eventually running out 5-3 victors and securing the U15 Girls World Schools Football Cup for 2024.
Despite being a very competitive game, the final was played in great spirits and the Braeburn players even joined their new-found friends on the presentation podium for a group photo after the match – a great display of sportsmanship and respect between two top sides!
After the post-match celebrations had subsided somewhat, the BCAD players spoke to the WSG Media Team.
“It feels amazing to be World Schools Football Cup champions! It’s been a tough few days with some difficult games but we were undefeated and our favourite part has to be winning the Cup.”
Elsewhere, Dubai-based South View School’s U11 Boys team ran out as winners of the Plate competition after defeating Strawberry Fields High School of India in the final, and BCAD’s U13 Boys side finished second in their Plate competition.
A full list of participating Gulf-based schools can be found below…
- French School Voltaire Doha, Qatar – U13 Boys
- GEMS Wellington Al Khail, United Arab Emirates – U17 Boys
- South View School, United Arab Emirates – U11 Boys
- The School of Research Science, United Arab Emirates – U15 Boys
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – U13 Boys, U13 Girls, U15 Girls
——————–
GYS is a proud partner of the World School Games Event Series, the company behind the World Schools Football Cup 2024, and you can find out more about their tournaments by clicking here.
You can also view the Official WSG Football Aftermovie using the player below.