Catalan Conquest: Gulf Schools Shine at the 2025 World School Football Cup

Location: Salou/Barcelona, Spain | Event Date: October 2025

2026 Dates: 8th – 12th October (Registrations Filling Fast)

In October 2025, the world-class facilities of Salou, just south of Barcelona, played host to the World School Football Cup. For the Middle Eastern schools in attendance, it was an opportunity to test their mettle against elite academies from Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The result? A clear demonstration that the technical level of youth football in the Gulf is at an all-time high.

The Middle East Roll of Honour (2025)

The competition featured hundreds of matches across three days, with Gulf schools consistently appearing in the final stages of the Cup, Plate, and Shield brackets:

• U15 Boys Cup Champions: Dubai College (UAE) – In a masterful display of tactical discipline, the Dubai College boys battled through a grueling knockout stage to lift the World Cup trophy, cementing their status as a global powerhouse in school football.
• Standout Performances: Safa & School of Research Science – Both schools are regular attendees of the World Schools Football Cup and in 2025 they showcased the depth of UAE talent throughout the three days of competition. The schools met in the Plate section in the U13 Boys category for their final match, with Safa coming out on top with a 3-0 victory. 

October 2026: The Search for Glory Returns

The World School Football Cup returns to Spain from 8th – 12th  October 2026. With 2025 producing some of the most memorable moments in the tournament’s history, the 2026 edition is expected to be the biggest yet.

For coaches and players currently competing in the Middle East, this is the ultimate reward. Will 2026 be the year your school adds a World Cup trophy to the cabinet?