• Dubai City in action against Pumas Unam at the Mina Cup 2022 youth football tournament being held in Jebel Ali, Dubai. All photos Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Dubai City in action against Pumas Unam at the Mina Cup 2022 youth football tournament being held in Jebel Ali, Dubai. All photos Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Pumas Unam players in a team huddle.
    Pumas Unam players in a team huddle.
  • Wolverhampton Wanderers lost to Fursan Hispania (red) at the Mina Cup 2022.
    Wolverhampton Wanderers lost to Fursan Hispania (red) at the Mina Cup 2022.
  • A Pumas Unam coach gives instructions from the sidelines.
    A Pumas Unam coach gives instructions from the sidelines.
  • Pumas Unam players watch from the sidelines.
    Pumas Unam players watch from the sidelines.
  • Dubai City (in black) in action against Pumas Unam at the Mina Cup 2022 youth football tournament.
    Dubai City (in black) in action against Pumas Unam at the Mina Cup 2022 youth football tournament.
  • A Wolverhampton Wanderers player controls the ball against Fursan Hispania.
    A Wolverhampton Wanderers player controls the ball against Fursan Hispania.
  • A player from the Barcelona Academy is shown a red card.
    A player from the Barcelona Academy is shown a red card.
  • A Wolverhampton Wanderers player dribbles the ball.
    A Wolverhampton Wanderers player dribbles the ball.
  • A Dubai City player controls the ball.
    A Dubai City player controls the ball.
  • Fursan Hispania (in red and blue) take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Mina Cup 2022 in Dubai.
    Fursan Hispania (in red and blue) take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Mina Cup 2022 in Dubai.
  • A Dubai City player runs with the ball.
    A Dubai City player runs with the ball.
  • The Pumas Unam goalkeeper makes a save.
    The Pumas Unam goalkeeper makes a save.
  • Dubai City against Pumas Unam at the Mina Cup 2022 youth tournament in Jebel Ali, Dubai.
    Dubai City against Pumas Unam at the Mina Cup 2022 youth tournament in Jebel Ali, Dubai.
  • A Dubai City player heads the ball.
    A Dubai City player heads the ball.
  • Fursan Hispania (in red and blue) take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Mina Cup 2022.
    Fursan Hispania (in red and blue) take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Mina Cup 2022.
  • Pumas Unam go on the attack against Dubai City.
    Pumas Unam go on the attack against Dubai City.
  • Wolverhampton Wanderers prepare to kick off against Fursan Hispania.
    Wolverhampton Wanderers prepare to kick off against Fursan Hispania.
  • A goalie kicks the ball upfield.
    A goalie kicks the ball upfield.
  • Go Pro Sports players talk on the sidelines at the Mina Cup 2022 in Jebel Ali, Dubai.
    Go Pro Sports players talk on the sidelines at the Mina Cup 2022 in Jebel Ali, Dubai.
  • A player of Fursan Hispania prepares for a throw-in.
    A player of Fursan Hispania prepares for a throw-in.
  • Wolverhamptons Wanderers in action against Fursan Hispania.
    Wolverhamptons Wanderers in action against Fursan Hispania.
  • A Barcelona Academy Xavi player in action.
    A Barcelona Academy Xavi player in action.
  • Dubai City (in black) against Pumas Unam at the Mina Cup 202.
    Dubai City (in black) against Pumas Unam at the Mina Cup 202.
  • Dubai City versus Pumas Unam at the Mina Cup 2022.
    Dubai City versus Pumas Unam at the Mina Cup 2022.

Sport

Football

Manchester City Football Schools and other young talent make their mark at Mina Cup

The event being held in Jebel Ali has attracted sides from as far afield as Mexico, the UK, Austria, Indonesia and India

Paul Radley
Paul Radley

April 11, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

While Raheem Sterling, Ben Foden and all the other stars of Manchester City’s first team were playing out a compelling draw with Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, in UAE a junior side bearing their name were showing they can play a bit, too.

Manchester City Football Schools’ Under 12s made an unbeaten start to their Mina Cup campaign in Jebel Ali.

They won all three of their group matches, against Dubai City FC, It’s Just Football and Tanzania’s DarYC Academy, racking up a goal difference of +10 in the process. They will face La Liga Academy in their semi-final on Monday night.

The four age-group competitions of the Mina Cup - U12 up to U18 - will reach their finales at the Centre of Excellence on the same night.

The event, which organisers hope will become the largest youth football competition the world, has attracted sides from as far afield as Mexico, the UK, Austria, Indonesia and India.

English Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, Austria’s Sturm Graz, and Mexico’s Unam Pumas have all featured in the three-day competition, as has Barcelona Academy.

Updated: April 11, 2022, 9:25 AM
Manchester City