Benidorm welcomes almost 4,000 young people, boys and girls, from the five continents for the 28th Costa Blanca Cup

3,810 players - girls and boys - from 265 teams from 109 clubs and national teams from 15 countries, from the five continents, gathered last night in Benidorm to participate in the opening ceremony of the 28th edition of the Costa Blanca Cup. Levante, the Avenida del Mediterráneo and the Parque de l'Aigüera were the scenes last night through which the athletes marched to the Julio Iglesias Auditorium, which hosted the opening act of the most important youth football and futsal tournament for girls and women.

Mayor Toni Pérez welcomed them, highlighting the city's main asset: “hospitality”. Thus, he told them, "We welcome you with open arms, wishing you to enjoy these days with total intensity, which, without a doubt, will be unforgettable." Pérez specified that the Costa Blanca CUP is "a week full of football, holidays, emotions, happiness and everything that the competition and the stay between us brings."

This edition, the 28th, like the previous ones, Pérez said, “allows you to play with teams from all over the world; the opportunity to share experiences with players from other nations, races and cultures; and living, with all intensity, the competitive experience of football”.

The mayor encouraged to preserve the values ​​that the sport of football inculcates: "respect and coexistence" and Toni Pérez praised the rise of the Costa Blanca Inclusive, which this year adds a new modality, pointing out that "football unites us, makes us brothers and makes better and more supportive”, recalling that this section of the tournament was awarded in 2021 in the football and futsal modalities in Emprén Esport awards of the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation.

The mayor of Benidorm concluded by encouraging the more than 3,800 athletes, technical and managerial teams and families that accompany them to "enjoy every minute that you are living and are going to live in this competitive and leisure Costa Blanca Cup"; “Play to be happy”.

The 28th edition of the Costa Blanca CUP will have eight venues and will once again bet on 'inclusive football'. The main office is Benidorm and the sub-offices are located in the neighbouring towns of Altea, La Nucía, La Vila Joiosa, Polop, Finestrat, Calpe and Benissa. Between all of them, the 600 games planned until July 9 will be played.

The 28th edition is committed to 'inclusive football', for players with intellectual disabilities, an aspect that the mayor already highlighted in the presentation of the tournament, which he described as global as it includes more and more people practising the king of sports.