Ajax: aiming for three in a row?
The Amsterdam side will once again host the fourteenth edition of the Olympia Future Cup. Of the previous thirteen editions, the trophy remained in Amsterdam seven times: 2010, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2024 and 2025. Ajax failed to reach the final only once: in 2016.
Last year, Bayern Munich were beaten 1–0 in the final by a goal from Eternal Barron. In the semi‑final, Ajax triumphed over Spain's Athletic Club on penalties: 9–8. Ajax have already won the prestigious tournament twice in back‑to‑back years, but a third consecutive title has never been achieved.
Real Madrid: Spanish debutant
The immaculate white of Real Madrid will appear for the first time at the Olympia Future Cup this Easter. The U17 side from La Fábrica, the nickname of Real’s academy, becomes the fifth Spanish club to take part. Earlier editions featured FC Barcelona (four times), Sevilla (2018), Atlético Madrid (2019) and Athletic Club (2025).
"We are really looking forward to the Future Cup. It will be a fantastic experience for our players, as we will face some of the best youth academies in Europe. It will be our first time participating, which makes it special. We want to show ourselves in the best possible way," Real Madrid previewed the Future Cup.
Sporting Portugal: chasing a podium finish
This will be Sporting Portugal’s third appearance at the Olympia Future Cup. In 2018, the Portuguese side made their debut with a fourth-place finish. They returned again in 2024.
During that edition, Sporting played group matches against Anderlecht (3–1 defeat), Paris Saint-Germain (1–1), and eventual winners FC Nordsjælland (0–2 win). In the play-off for fifth place, Sporting beat Manchester City 4–2. With finishes of fourth and fifth, is a podium place possible this year?
Pedro Pontes, head coach of Sporting Portugal U17, is greatly looking forward to the upcoming tests in Amsterdam. "For the development of our players, it is extremely important to take part in international tournaments like this. And especially when we look at the line‑up of the Future Cup, it’s fantastic for us. Our players can develop very well here because we play many matches. In addition, they are away from home for a while, step out of their comfort zone, and come across different styles or speak different languages."
This will be the third time the Portuguese side takes part in the tournament. For Pontes, however, it will be his first time in Amsterdam. “I once attended an international tournament in the Netherlands and ended up meeting Louis van Gaal. I even took a photo with him — that was a great moment."
"We play attacking football based on solid organisation," he continues when speaking about his team. "The rules of the tournament also present an exciting challenge for us. And the matches are, of course, shorter, so we need to anticipate more and decide games more quickly than usual."
Finally, Pontes says he is delighted to face Ajax. "Ajax and Sporting Portugal are two youth academies that have produced many top players in the past. That’s wonderful, but it also carries a responsibility for us. We want to be the best on the pitch, but also off it."
Bayer 04 Leverkusen: new faces from Germany
Bayer 04 Leverkusen, like Real Madrid and Olympique Lyonnais, will make their debut at the Olympia Future Cup. The team from North Rhine–Westphalia, close to the Dutch border, follows in the footsteps of Bayern Munich, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Schalke 04, becoming just the fourth German participant in the tournament's history.
We speak with Jefta Bresser, head of the Bayer 04 youth academy. The Dutchman joined Leverkusen in 2023 after spells at NAC and De Graafschap. "We were delighted to be invited, the Olympia Future Cup is a top international tournament. You want to be part of that. These moments allow players to get used to international football, which is hugely important."
"The challenges you face against teams from different backgrounds or playing styles are impossible to recreate domestically. German football is generally more combative, not necessarily better, but they do everything to win. Dutch football is more romantic, focused on attractive play. Meanwhile, southern European teams present completely different challenges. That makes this tournament incredibly educational."
Bresser is clear on what Leverkusen want to show: "We want to display the club's DNA on the pitch just as the first team has done successfully in recent years. That means controlled football, dominance in positional play, and building up effectively towards the final third. Executing that well will be a real challenge at the Future Cup."
"As academy director, I hope the team clearly shows our playing identity. Whether that results in fifth place, sixth place or a final, that is not the main priority. If we present our ideas well, we can be satisfied."
Paris Saint-Germain: seven in a row
Like Anderlecht, Paris Saint‑Germain have become a familiar sight at De Toekomst during the Olympia Future Cup. Since their debut in 2017, the French giants have participated every year. The upcoming edition will be their seventh appearance.
Last season, PSG finished fourth after losing the third-place play-off 2–0 to Athletic Club. They did, however, produce the tournament’s top scorer: Pierre Mounguengue, who scored four goals, the same as Bayern's Yll Gashi.
Olympique Lyonnais: second French participant
Alongside PSG, Olympique Lyonnais will also feature at the Olympia Future Cup, their first time ever, making them the second French club in the tournament’s history.
Ahead of the tournament, assistant coach Mour Paye speaks to us: "We are participating for several reasons. Above all, it is a valuable experience for our players and staff. It allows us to face top European teams and measure ourselves against some of the best youth academies in the world. And it is an important opportunity to represent a club known globally for its youth development."
Paye outlines what supporters can expect: "We want to showcase the club's renewed values, on and off the pitch. Supporters can expect a technically skilled side, with intelligent players who adapt to different situations. We are also exciting to watch, often scoring many goals. OL has a clear attacking identity, and we want to highlight that."
Enthusiasm is high among Lyonnais's talents: "Participating in a tournament with such prestigious teams naturally sparks a lot of discussion within the squad, the staff and the club. We are used to major tournaments, but this being our first Future Cup brings a lot of excitement. We look forward to discovering the competition and facing teams with such strong reputations."
On what he looks forward to most: "The matches, of course. We're not travelling to Amsterdam primarily for sightseeing, even if that’s part of the experience. We’re going to play football, enjoy it, and show ourselves. And when you represent a club like Olympique Lyonnais, the goal is always the same: to win."
On when the tournament is a success: "It's a success when we have fun and show our full potential. It’s crucial that especially the younger players return having made real progress and gained valuable experience. Finally, we want to represent our club in the best possible way, on and off the pitch, reflecting Olympique Lyonnais’s core values."
Anderlecht: thirteenth appearance
Anderlecht will also feature in the fourteenth edition. The Belgian side has participated twelve times and only missed out in 2012.
They have taken the coveted trophy back to Brussels on three occasions: 2011, 2013 and 2015. In last year's edition, Anderlecht finished sixth. After group matches against Athletic Club (3–1 win) and Bayern Munich (5–2 loss), Gamba Osaka proved too strong in the fifth-place play-off, beating the Belgians 4–1.
Anderlecht consistently make a strong impression at the tournament. They have produced several (joint) top scorers: Aron Leya Iseka (2013), Ilias Benamar, Orel Mangala, Milan Corryn (all 2015), Sebastiaan Bornauw (2016), and Anouar Ait El Hadj (2019).
Future United: a combined talent team
Future United is one of the most unique teams at this year's edition. The squad is composed of top talents from several of Ajax’s partner clubs.
The team is coached by Raymond Atteveld, and he has players at his disposal from FC Volendam, Como 1907, Club León, Barranquilla, CF Pachuca, Gamba Osaka and Real Oviedo. Due to the current situation in the Middle East, the two players from Sharjah FC who were invited are unable to attend the Future Cup.
